Subscribe
Follow Us
The Philadelphia 76ers will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a 76ers-Timberwolves prediction and pick.
This game has all the makings of an entertaining matchup. The 76ers headed into the All-Star Break fresh off of a huge win against the Milwaukee Bucks, a win that tied them for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Now they face the upstart Timberwolves, who are coming off of their own big win. Minnesota managed to upset the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night, helping themselves climb further up the Western Conference ladder. A win against another playoff team like the Sixers would be a huge step for this developing Minnesota squad. Both of these teams are absolutely loaded with talent, so this should be one of the best matchups of the night.
Click here for our Risk Free $1000 Bet!
*To claim, new users need to register, make a first deposit, and then simply place their first real-money wager on FanDuel Sportsbook up to $1000! If a user loses their first wager, we’ll refund their losses in the form of a free bet up to $1000!*
Here are the 76ers-Timberwolves NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: 76ers-Timberwolves Odds
Philadelphia 76ers: -2.5(-110)
Minnesota Timberwolves: +2.5 (-110)
Over: 229 (-110)
Under: 229 (-110)
Article Continues Below
*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
Why The 76ers Could Cover The Spread
The 76ers may have what it takes to slow down this T-Wolves offense. Minnesota has been terrorizing teams on the defensive end, but there's reason to believe that Philadelphia can put a stop to them. The Sixers are one of the best defenses in the NBA, only allowing 106 points per game to their opponents. They only give up a 52% shooting percentage from two-point range while holding opponents to a 34% three-point percentage. That's one of the best numbers in the league, and it will certainly come into play here. The Timberwolves shoot the most threes per game in the NBA, so if the Sixers can slow that element of their game down, they'll likely be well on their way to victory.
Surprisingly, the 76ers are better on the road than they are at home. Philadelphia owns a 16-13 record on their home floor, but that improves to 19-10 when they play anywhere else. The Timberwolves have been strong at home, but they haven't been great at covering the spread in games like this one. Minnesota is only 5-5 ATS when they enter the game as a home underdog.
Why The Timberwolves Could Cover The Spread
While the Sixers are one of the best half-court offenses in the NBA, the Timberwolves should still get solid offensive production in this one. Philadelphia is one of the worst teams in the league at stopping opposing fast breaks, an area where the T-Wolves excel. Minnesota scores nearly 15 fast break points per contest while ranking fifth in the NBA in steals per game, something that helps create fast-break opportunities. Even if they aren't to shoot effectively from deep, expect the Timberwolves to hang in the game.
There's something to be said for momentum, even if both of these teams just put a big break behind them. Minnesota is an impressive 8-3 in their last 11 contests, with a 7-3-1 record against the spread in those contests. The 76ers, on the other hand, are 4-4 in their last eight games. Philly is only 3-5 ATS in those games. The Sixers also haven't played since the All-Star Break yet, while the T-Wolves had the opportunity to knock off the rust on Thursday night.
Final 76ers-Timberwolves Prediction & Pick
The Sixers look tempting here, but they aren't the best pick on the board. Minnesota has defended their home court fiercely recently, and they just landed a huge win against an elite opponent. Ride the hot hand with the Timberwolves here.
Final 76ers-Timberwolves Prediction & Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves: +2.5 (-110)
