Portland Trail Blazers vs Minnesota Timberwolves 01/09/20 NBA Odds and Betting Preview

The Portland Trail Blazers travel to the Target Center to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night.

This game will be the final stop in the Blazers’ current five-game road trip. They have split their first four games of this expedition and are looking to end it with a positive note via a win over the Timberwolves. In their last game, Carmelo Anthony hit the game-winner as the Blazers came from behind to beat the Toronto Raptors. On the other hand, the Minnesota Timberwolves have won three out of their last five games played. However, they on the other side of the equation in their last outing. The Wolves gave away an eight-point lead in the final eight minutes and lost to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Last Game of Current Road Trip

The Portland Trail Blazers look to end their current five-game road trip with a winning record. The Blazers are currently 2-2 on their excursion and they head to Minnesota following a come from behind win over the Toronto Raptors in a game where Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points and hit the winning basket with 3.3 seconds left in the game.

Damian Lillard leads Portland in scoring at 26.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. C.J. McCollum is putting up 21.9 points and 4.3 boards per contest. Hassan Whiteside is having a double-double season with 15.8 points and 14.0 rebounds per game while Carmelo Anthony has been a big help at 16.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per night.

The Blazers rank 11th in the league in scoring at 112.0 points per game. They are 12th in the NBA in rebounding at 45.9 boards grabbed per contest and are at the bottom of the pack when it comes to passing at only 19.7 assists per game. Portland is allowing opponents to score an average of 113.6 points per game, 10th most overall.

Looking to Get Back on Track

After a disgusting 11-game losing streak in December 2019, the Minnesota Timberwolves won four out of their first six games of the year. Then last Tuesday night, the T-Wolves suffered a 112-119 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum. Minnesota looks to get back on track when they host the Blazers on Thursday night.

Karl Anthony-Towns leads Minnesota with 26.5 points and 11.7 rebounds per game but he is listed as questionable here and he has not played since December 14th with a knee injury. Andrew Wiggins is putting up 24.1 points and 5.4 rebounds while Jeff Teague leads the team in assists at 6.3 per contest while also scoring 13.9 points per game.

Minnesota ranks 12th in the NBA in scoring at 111.8 points per game. They are 7th off the glass at 46.5 rebounds per contest and are 24th in passing at 22.3 assists per outing. The Timberwolves are giving up an average of 114.4 points per game, 7th most in the league this season.

Who Wins?

Portland is 2-6 SU in their last eight games played. The Blazers are 2-3 SU in their last five games played on the road, and 0-5 SU in their last five Thursday games. Minnesota is 4-14 SU in their last 18 games played. The Wolves are 5-11 SU in 16 home games played so far this season, 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played on a Thursday, and 0-5 SU in their last five games against the Northwest Division. Head to head, the Blazers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played against the Timberwolves.

Carmelo Anthony continues to impress in his new role with the Blazers. In their last outing, Anthony scored a season-high 28 points and delivered the game-winning basket. Anthony has made a total of 17 go-ahead baskets in the final period and overtime since 2003, the most by any player during that period. That’s a luxury when you already have Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.

The Timberwolves struggled in December as Karl Anthony Towns has missed their last 11 games with knee soreness. Hist status has been upgraded to questionable, meaning he could be back anytime now. Andrew Wiggins has carried the flag for Minnesota and if Towns returns, they will be a tough duo to deal with.

With the uncertainty of Towns comes the uncertainty of the Timberwolves. Minnesota has struggled with KAT sidelined. The Blazers are starting to come together and have played better with the addition of Carmelo Anthony. I like the visitors to pick up the win on the road.

Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers

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Other Bets to Make

The Blazers are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games played. Portland is 8-13 ATS in 21 road games played this season, 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Western Conference, and 11-4 ATS in their last 15 January games. The Timberwolves are 4-1 ATS in their last five games played. Minnesota is 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games played at home. Head to head, the Blazers are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games played against the T-Wolves.

Minnesota has struggled without Towns and that’s not saying they weren’t with him. Jarrett Culver has played well as of late but the Wolves have not found consistency with KAT sidelined. Portland has found some kind of groove as of late, especially since the arrival of Melo. Anthony has been playing well as of late and Portland is 2-1 ATS in their last three games after an SU win by four points or fewer. Minnesota is 13-19-1 in their last 33 games played after allowing more than 100 points in their previous game.

Prediction: Trail Blazers -2/b>

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The total has gone under in three out of the last four games played by the Blazers. The under is 8-2 in Portland’s last 10 games played on the road. The total has gone under in eight out of the last 11 games played by Minnesota. The T-Wolves have seen the total go under in six out of the last seven games against the Western Conference. Head to head, the total has gone under in six out of the last 10 meetings between these two teams.

Portland has allowed 117 points or more in five out of their last seven games played while Minnesota has the 7th worst scoring defense in the NBA this season. Portland has top-notch scorers in Lillard, McCollum, and Melo. I think this is going to be an entertaining game and the Blazers are going to light up the scoreboard.

Prediction: Over 224

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