The Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t reached the postseason since the 2003-04 season, but they are on their way to ending the NBA’s longest playoff drought. The Wolves have already eclipsed last season’s win total and their 34 victories are their third-most over the past 14 seasons. One of those victories was a 127-99 thumping of the Cleveland Cavaliers last month. The Cavs have been struggling and they look to avoid being swept by the Wolves.
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Odds Analysis
The Wolves haven’t been very good on the road and they enter this contest having lost their last four and eight of their last nine away from home. Overall, the Wolves are just 12-16 SU and 13-14-1 ATS in games away from the Target Center.
Winning two straight games for the first time in over a month, it looked like the Cavs were getting past their recent struggles. But they couldn’t extend their streak, losing to the Pistons last week. And after a solid defensive game in a 91-89 win over Miami, the Cavs crumbled in a primetime shellacking at the hands of the Rockets last Saturday. Any gains from that Miami game were quickly tossed and the Cavs allowed at least 120 points for the sixth time in 13 games. Stay away from the Cavs until they get things figured out. They’ve gone just 2-12 ATS in their last 14 outings.
Scheduling Situation
The Cavs will have the chance to get beyond their recent run of poor play with a stretch of three games in four nights. Their contest with the Wolves will the second of a back-to-back after the Cavs play in Orlando the night before. They also take a trip to Atlanta for a tilt with the Hawks on Friday.
Cleveland played its best game, at least defensively, in some time in its last back-to-back situation, holding the Heat to 89 points one night after allowing 125 to the Pistons. It’s the first time since Nov. 20 that the Cavs held an opponent to fewer than 90 points, and just the second time all season.
Overall the Cavs are 4-5 SU and 3-6 ATS in the second of a back-to-back and they’ve played below the total in all nine games.
Player To Watch
The Wolves acquired Jimmy Butler to help in the maturation of Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Wiggins. They also needed someone to help run Tom Thibodeau’s defense. Butler and Thibs had plenty of success during their time together in Chicago and the coach wasted no time in getting his mitts on JB, and he’s been worth it.
Butler returned from a knee injury five games ago and has scored at least 21 points in each contest. He dropped 30 in a win over the Pelicans in the last game, his eighth 30-point game of the year. But Butler’s biggest asset is his defense.
The Wolves went 2-2 and allowed 119 points per game in the four games he missed. In the six games total Butler has missed the Wolves have allowed at least 109 points in each one. He also did a number on LeBron James in the Wolves 127-99 win a month ago, limiting the King to 10 points on 4 of 8 shooting.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The Cavaliers are a mess right now with Love out of the lineup and the constant bickering that’s coming from the locker room. Tyronn Lue has his work cut out for him, but at least he has the game’s best player on his side. We keep waiting for the Cavs to break out of their funk, and they will eventually, but their struggles are concerning.
Until the Cavs put it together it’s a wise move to stay away from them. They are 2-12 ATS in their last 14 games and just 5-20-1 ATS at home. Their defense is the worst in the game and the Wolves have talented scorers who will take advantage.
NBA Odds: Timberwolves 114, Cavaliers 109
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