NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies Preview, Odds, Prediction

Two young and flashy teams meet in Memphis, where the Grizzlies host the Minnesota Timberwolves. The hosts are arguably the biggest surprise of the entire season as they attack the top of the conference, currently holding the No.4 seed in the West. On the other side, the T-Wolves are on the verge of the playoff zone, but look far better than in recent years, finally maturing and gaining a winning mentality. Many things have changed since Anthony Edwards came, and the Timberwolves are going up. This matchup could be very frequent in the playoffs over the next few years because both units have a very bright future.

Preview

Minnesota Timberwolves (20-21, +160) lost in New Orleans following four straight triumphs. They were so close to the victory, but Brandon Ingram’s three in the final second stopped the T-Wolves from at least entering the OT. Though, their previous few performances have been pretty refreshing because Minnesota won on the road in LA vs. Clippers, in OKC and Houston, in between beating the Thunder at home as well.

They are playing in waves throughout the entire year, posting several wins and losses in a row. They need a bit of consistency, and we believe that Chris Finch can deliver that as the head coach. Signs of massive improvement were already present in Minneapolis.

Edwards had 28 points in New Orleans, hitting six threes in 12 attempts, KAT scored 26 with eight boards, while D’Angelo Russell added 18 with 10 assists. Malik Beasley helped off the bench also with 18 points, all of them from downtown, shooting 6-for-8 behind the arc.

Memphis Grizzlies (29-14, -165) won 10 straight games, the most recent against the Golden State Warriors at home, 116-108. This win is the ultimate proof that this team needs to be considered seriously, and that they have what it takes to make a very, very big noise in the playoffs. And we are going to repeat that, VERY big noise.

They won’t have Steven Adams and Dillon Brooks, but that isn’t a problem for Taylor Jenkins’ side, one of the most resistant and injury-defiant in the NBA. We’ve seen them win in series even without Morant around, let alone with some sidekicks unavailable.

Ja had 29 points vs. Warriors, with eight assists and five boards, while Ziaire Williams dropped 17, the same as Tyus Jones, who came off the bench. Jaren Jackson Jr. had another double-double, 13 points, and 11 boards, while Desmond Bane scored 11 points this time. Brandon Clarke had 14 and nine boards.

Head to Head Games

Both teams used the home-court advantage in the previous two battles this year. The Grizzlies took down the Timberwolves at home 125-118 after OT, while the T-Wolves rolled over the rivals in Minneapolis, 138-95.

Prediction

The current line for the total points is set at 229, and we are suggesting to bet on over, because these two teams aren’t keen on focusing on the defensive aspect of play. Both the Timberwolves and the Grizzlies like to play offensive-minded basketball, with high pace and lots of shooting, so when they meet, we predict an old-fashioned gunfight at FedEx Forum in Memphis.

Pick: Over 229 points

Here is the preview for the Clippers vs. Pelicans game.