Minnesota Timberwolves vs Brooklyn Nets 10/23/19 NBA Betting Odds and Pick

The Minnesota Timberwolves take their act to the Barclays Center to test the new and improved Brooklyn Nets on October 23, 2019.

The Wolves are confident that their young and talented core is going to play better with an equally young head coach in Ryan Saunders who will enter his first full season with the team. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets were the big winners in free agency after they signed Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Durant won’t play this season due to an injury but Irving is ready to start a new season in a new home.

A Fresh Start

The Minnesota Timberwolves are one year removed from the chaos that came during the Jimmy Butler and Tom Thibodeau era. Butler was traded before the start of last season while Thibodeau was fired in January. Under a young and dynamic head coach in Ryan Saunders, the Timberwolves are looking for a fresh start.

The Wolves didn’t do much during the offseason except acquiring Jake Layman from the Portland Trail Blazers and 6th overall pick Jarrett Culver. Layman is coming off his best season to date while Culver is expected to mitigate the loss of Rose who was a key player off the bench. With Karl Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Robert Covington returning, the Wolves are confident heading to the new season.

Minnesota averaged 112.5 points per game last season, 13th in the league. They are ranked 19th in rebounding at 44.8 boards per contest. The Wolves were 15th in passing at 24.6 assists per game and they allowed the 8th most points per game last season at 114.0 per outing.

Big Winners in Free Agency

The Brooklyn Nets were the big winners in free agency. Not only did they acquire Kyrie Irving, but they also bagged Kevin Durant. Although KD won’t be able to play this season with an Achilles injury, Irving will suit up for Brooklyn this coming season. The Nets lost D’Angelo Russell in the Durant trade but for sure, Irving is an upgrade from D-Lo.

The Nets also added center D’Andre Jordan and now they have two very good big men in Jordan and the returning Jarrett Allen. Caris Lavert will also return after an injury-plagued 2018-19 season while Spencer Dinwiddie is expected to be a strong candidate for NBA Sixth Man of the Year. Joe Harris, Taurean Prince and Wilson Chandler give the Nets terrific depth.

Brooklyn ranked 15th in the NBA in scoring at 112.5 points per game last season. They were 19th off the glass with an average of 44.8 rebounds per game and 15th in passing at 25.6 assists per contest. The Nets conceded the 13th most points per game last season at 112.3 per outing.

Who Wins?

Minnesota is 4-11 SU in their last 15 games played. The Timberwolves are 2-8 SU in their last 10 games played on the road. Brooklyn is 1-4 SU in their last four games played. The Nets are 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played at home and 3-8 SU in their last 11 games played in October. Head to head, the Timberwolves are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played including 3-0 SU in their last three meetings.

The Timberwolves will be playing in their first full season under the 33-year old Ryan Saunders who replaced Tom Thibodeau midway last season. Saunders has made it known that Karl Anthony Towns is going to be his main guy. The Minnesota Timberwolves return four starters from last season but will be missing key contributors in Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, and Dario Saric. Minnesota is the NBA betting underdog against Brooklyn.

The Brooklyn Nets have strengthened their lineup by adding Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and DeAndre Jordan. Although Durant won’t play this season, the Nets have a better team this year than the previous year. Kyrie Irving is an upgrade from D’Angelo Russell while Jordan provides them a second defensive force aside from Jarrett Allen. Taurean Prince and Wilson Chandler are also terrific pick-ups although Chandler is out on suspension.

I think both teams have very good starting units but the Nets have the deeper bench with the likes of Spencer Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan coming off the bench. I think the Nets will have the edge here with a more talented roster plus home-court advantage. I’m picking the Brooklyn Nets to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on 10/23/19.

Prediction: Brooklyn Nets

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Spread Betting Odds

The Timberwolves are 4-1 ATS in their last five games played and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games. Minnesota is 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games against the Eastern Conference and 2-5 ATS in their last seven games against the Atlantic Division. The Nets are 1-4 ATS in their last five games played. Brooklyn is 1-4 ATS in their last five games played at home and 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games played against the Western Conference. Head to head, the Timberwolves are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 meetings.

Minnesota has outscored Brooklyn by an average of 6.1 points per game in their last 10 meetings and 10.33 points per game in their last three outings. The Timberwolves are 3-0 in their last three meetings and are +31 points against the Nets during that period. I watched the Nets play in their preseason games and the team looks like a well-oiled machine this early in the season. Kyrie Irving gives this team plenty of experience and the likes of LaVert, Harris, Dinwiddie, and Prince give them plenty of firepower. I think the Nets win big here.

Prediction: Nets -5.5

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