Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns Preview
The Timberwolves and Suns are set to tip-off the first game of this Western Conference first-round series at 3:30 PM ET at the Target Center in Minneapolis. ESPN is carrying the game on TV. The Timberwolves are favored by 1.5 points and are -122 on the money line. The Suns are +101, and the over/under line is 214.5 points.
Check out BetCoco for Minnesota Timberwolves – Phoenix Suns odds
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns Head-to-Head and Key Stats
The last ten head-to-head matchups between then Suns and Timberwolves have gone in favor of the Suns, putting together a record of 9-1. Looking back over the previous three times that the Suns and Timberwolves have faced off, they have combined to average 220 points per game and have an over/under record of 2-1.
- Although Phoenix has a straight up record of 7-3 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 6-4. The team averaged 115 points per game in these games.
- When looking at their past three home matchups, Minnesota has an ATS record of 1-2 while averaging 107 per game. The team went 1-2 overall in these games.
- In their last three games as the betting underdog, the Suns have a strong straight up record of 3-0. In addition, their ATS record was 3-0 in these scenarios.
- In their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Timberwolves have a straight up record of 8-2 and an ATS mark of 4-6.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns Prediction
Today, the Suns are looking to extend their winning streak to four games. In their last game, they defeated the Timberwolves by a score of 125-106. As the underdog, the Suns covered the spread (+2.5).
For the season, the Suns have a record of 49-33, which is good for 6th place in the Western Conference. Against Western Conference opponents, they are 29-23 compared to 20-10 against the East.
As the underdog, the Suns have a record of 9-12 this season. Their ATS record as the underdog is 10-11, and they have covered the spread in three straight games as the underdog.
As for their O/U record this season, the Suns are 36-45-1. In their games this season, the average combined scoring total is 229.4 points, and today’s O/U line of 214.5 is lower than all of their previous games.
Phoenix comes into the game as the NBA’s 9th ranked scoring offense, at 116.2 points per game. They have been even better on the road, at 116.7 points per contest. The Suns are also one of the league’s most efficient shooting teams, connecting on 49% of their shots from the field, which is the 5th best mark in the league.
Bradley Beal has hit 73.1% of his threes over his last five games, averaging 3.8 made threes per contest in that stretch. This has led to an average of 26.8 points per game in his last five games. Over his last five games, Devin Booker has averaged 23.6 points per game but has hit just 29.4% of his threes in those games. Kevin Durant is averaging 27.1 points per game this season, as is Devin Booker.
On defense, the Suns come into the game ranked 13th in the league in points allowed at 113.2 per game. Over their last three games, the team is allowing 107 points per contest (22nd). Phoenix struggled on the boards in their last game vs. the Timberwolves, giving up 13. For the game, Minnesota scored 106 points in the game.
In today’s game against the Suns, the Timberwolves are favored by 1.5 points. This season, Minnesota has been favored in 63 of their 82 games, going 47-16 as the favorite. As the favorite, they have an average scoring margin of +8.6 points per game.
Minnesota’s ATS record for the season is 40-41, and they have failed to cover the spread in their last four games. At home, they are 18-23 ATS compared to 22-18 on the road.
Coming into today’s game, the Timberwolves are 3rd in the Western Conference with a record of 56-26. In the West, they are 37-15 against other conference opponents and 12-4 in the Northwest Division.
The Timberwolves are 9-10 ATS as the favorite this season, with an average scoring margin of +8.2 points per game at home. Today’s O/U line of 214.5 is lower than their season average of 221.
In their last game against the Suns, the Timberwolves lost by a score of 125-106. Minnesota was favored by 2.5 points in that game, and the O/U line was 216.5.
This season, Minnesota has an O/U record of 42-40, and 69 of their games have had higher over/under lines than today’s line of 214.5. On average, the Timberwolves’ games have finished with 219.5 points.
Minnesota comes into the game as the NBA’s 3rd best three-point shooting team, hitting 38% of their shots from downtown. Overall, they are 10th in field goal percentage, at 48%. The Timberwolves are 17th in scoring this season, at 113 points per game, and their home scoring average is 112 points per contest.
Anthony Edwards has been playing well of late, averaging 25.8 points per game over his last five games. In these games, he hit 48.8% of his shots from the field. Rudy Gobert has averaged 14.6 rebounds in his last five games to go along with 19.2 points while hitting 77.1% of his shots from the field.
In the current season, the Timberwolves defense has excelled, sitting 1st in the NBA by allowing 106.5 points per game. The Minnesota defense has allowed opponents to shoot 35.6% from beyond the arc this season. Opposing teams are also hitting 45.1% of their field goal attempts vs. Minnesota.
Despite being 1.5 point underdogs, we predict the Suns to come out on top with a final score of 113-112.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns Betting Tips
- We like the Suns on the moneyline (+101)
- The Suns are also our pick on the spread at +1.5
- Projecting a combined 225 points, we like the over
Minnesota Timberwolves Injury Report
- Jaylen Clark – Achilles – Out
Phoenix Suns Injury Report
- Damion Lee – Knee – Out
