The Timberwolves head back to Minnesota to host the Memphis Grizzlies for Game 3 on Thursday! It's time to continue our NBA odds series with a Grizzlies-Timberwolves prediction and pick.

 

The Grizzlies bounced back and took down the Timberwolves at home in Game 2. It was going to be hard to contain the Grizzlies for back-to-back games but the Timberwolves definitely established their presence in this series. Minnesota did their job and stole home-court advantage from the Grizzlies. This series should be close from here on out as these two teams have two of the top-scoring offenses in the NBA.

Here are the Grizzlies-Timberwolves NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

NBA Playoffs Odds: Grizzlies-Timberwolves Odds

Memphis Grizzlies: -1.5 (-110)

Minnesota Timberwolves: +1.5 (-110)

Over: 237.5 (-110)

Under: 237.5 (-110)

*Watch NBA Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)

Why The Grizzlies Could Cover The Spread

Memphis did their job in Game 2 and really showed why they are the better team in this matchup. The first quarter was close ending 33-32 in favor of Memphis, but that was the last time Minnesota was even close. The Grizzlies held the T-Wolves to just 17 points in the second quarter and then again just 19 in the fourth quarter. The defense really stepped up and contained a solid offense from the T-Wolves. The Grizzlies held Anthony Edwards to 20 points and Karl-Anthony Towns to just 15 points. Towns has yet to really show up in this series.

The Grizzlies can cover this spread easily as it's currently at just a point. All they would have to do is win this game by two points which is doable. They will be on the road where they were (26-15) on the season. The Timberwolves finished with an identical record at home at (26-15) as well and so something will have to give in these next two games. As for Thursday night, Ja Morant and company will need to play the exact same way as they did in Game 2, and they will cover this spread.

Morant finished a rebound shy of a triple-double in the blowout win. His 23 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds led the Grizzlies past the Timberwolves with ease but the team saw great play from just about everyone. Six other members scored in double-digits and if that happens in Game 3, I expect it to be the same result.

Why The Timberwolves Could Cover The Spread

There is one person who needs to really step up right now. It's the same player who ended up winning the NBA Three-Point Contest back in February. Karl-Anthony Towns played well in Game 1 scoring 29 points, but in Game 2 he was limited the entire game scoring just 15. That can not happen as Towns is one of the top scoring threats at the center position. His ability to drain threes makes him very valuable and it allows the offense to flow. Anthony Edwards is a player who likes to drive to the basket and Towns' elite ability to shoot allows Edwards to see success without the opposing center blocking the paint. If the T-Wolves want to really cause problems in this series, Towns will need to play like he did in Game 1.

The offense couldn't get into a rhythm Tuesday night. The Grizzlies improved their defense tremendously from Game 1, and maybe the Timberwolves weren't expecting that. The 11-38 shooting from deep was another major reason for their slump. If Minnesota can improve those numbers then they will be a lot closer in this next game. Towns needs to attempt more threes and force the offense to spread out. He attempted just one in Game 2 and missed. It would make sense for him to attempt more than seven shots in the entire game as well.

Edwards stated that the Minnesota fans are tougher than Memphis's fans and that they will be a major factor for the Grizzlies to deal with Thursday night. If he is right, then this series will have the potential to go the distance.

Final Grizzlies-Timberwolves Prediction & Pick

With the way Game 2 ended, I think taking the Grizzlies here is the right call. The spread is under two points as the favorite and the Grizzlies are fresh off a 28-point win. They have all the momentum right now and should carry that into Game 3.

Final Grizzlies-Timberwolves Prediction & Pick: Grizzlies -1.5 (-110)