Two of the NBA’s most talented big men will face off when the Minnesota Timberwolves travel to play the New Orleans Pelicans. And both Karl Anthony Towns and Anthony Davis will try their best to dig their teams out of slow starts.
New Orleans has won two straight after an extremely poor beginning to the year and needs to win games like this in which it is the home team in what could be a close outcome.
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Odds Analysis
The Timberwolves are 4-8 overall and 4-8 against the spread as expectations have increased for this team on the season. Minnesota has only covered once in six tries on the road, which is definitely something to keep in mind as this game draws near.
New Orleans is 4-10 overall and 6-7-1 against the spread. The Hornets are 4-4 attempting to cover the spread at home this year.
Player to Watch
Jrue Holiday - The Hornets point guard missed the early part of the season to care for his wife, who had a benign tumor in her brain removed. He wanted to be there for the start of her recovery but everything is going well and he’s now back with the team.
Holiday has played in two games and the Pelicans have won both of them after winning only two of 12 without him. Holiday is averaging 21.5 points and 8.0 assists in his return, adding a critical piece to the roster.
New Orleans has an elite player down low in Davis, but he needed help and Holiday seems to be the perfect complement.
Key Stat
1.7 - That’s the Timberwolves’ positive point-differential on the season despite their poor record. That could be an indicator of good times ahead, as teams which outscore their opponents throughout the season generally will make it to the playoffs.
That may be a bit too much to ask for this group, but Minnesota wants to keep taking forward steps. The Timberwolves have won three of their past six games and has the type of young talent which should continue to play well as the season rolls along as some veterans tend to break down during a long season.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The biggest matchup in this one will be Karl Anthony Towns against Anthony Davis. Davis is averaging 31.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.0 blockers per game and is one of the best players in the NBA. He will aim to keep that rolling.
Towns is averaging 21.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per contest. He hasn’t quite reached his peak in just his second season but has vast potential and has the raw ability to take over games. Davis should have the advantage, but if Towns can play well the Timberwolves have some talented pieces around him, led by Andrew Wiggins.
Minnesota has been discussed as a possible breakout team but has been inconsistent. The Timberwolves have some blowout wins but also plenty of losses.
This is a road game against a team which has started to put it together of late. The return of Holiday can’t be understated. He is the second legitimate scoring option the team needed to team with Davis and results have been immediate. The slow start leaves little margin for error as New Orleans tries to rejoin the playoff picture, but this is another one it should win to continue the march toward .500.
Both teams can put up some points so a shootout wouldn’t be unexpected.
NBA Odds: Pelicans 116, Timberwolves 111
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