The Indiana Pacers will aim to get their first road win of the season when they tip off in the Twin Cities vs the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Pacers clobbered the Nets 132-112 on Saturday and will look to win their fifth straight game at the Target Center. The T-Wolves, on the other hand, allowed 140 points to the Mavs and fell to 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS on the season. Oddsmakers opened the T-Wolves as 2.5-point favorites with a total of 225.5.
- Minnesota is allowing 125 points per game this season (ranked 26th).
- The Pacers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as underdogs of 2.5 points or more.
- The OVER has hit in all 3 of the Timberwolves’ games this season (avg. combined score: 250).
Pacers vs Timberwolves Game Center
Timberwolves’ Defense is Non-Existent
The (re)addition of Jimmy Butler to the fold was supposed to assist Minnesota’s perimeter defense but through three games, it has regressed. The T-Wolves are allowing opponents to shoot 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range, which has translated to giving up 125 points per game, ranked 26th in the NBA.
One of the reasons for the defensive miscues is rebounding as the Timberwolves are ranked 28th in total rebounds per game (39.7), while allowing an alarming 15.7 offensive boards.
As a result, the T-Wolves have failed to cover the spread in any of their three games and are one of four teams yet to get a spread win this season. Butler sat out the last game vs the Mavericks but he is expected to be back in the lineup despite his malcontent status. If Timberwolves backers are looking for a trend to support their wager tonight, they should know Minnesota is 12-4-1 ATS in its last 17 games as a home favorite.
Pacers Have Fared Well As Dog
The Indiana Pacers are flying under the radar again in a top-heavy Eastern Conference and that’s fine by them. The Pacers’ only loss this season was to the Bucks and they fell short from three-point land as they only managed to hit six from deep while the Bucks nailed 17 treys from downtown.
Indiana may be a decent dog to back tonight as it has fared well when traveling to the Twin Cities at 4-0 SU in the last four games at Target Center with an average win margin of 11.7 points per game. When dogs of 2.5 points or more, the Pacers have gone 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games in that spot.
In the frontcourt, Indy will need to rely heavily on center Myles Turner tonight as they may be without forward Domantas Sabonis because of a bruised right knee. He is questionable for tonight as of this writing.
OVER Bettors EyEing This Total
The total opened at 225.5 and while that may seem like an insanely high number for bettors to take an OVER, it may be a winning wager. The Timberwolves’ defense has stunk this season as they’re allowing 125 points per game and the OVER has hit in all three of their games (average combined score of 250 points per game).
My Pick is…
To take the Pacers to cover the spread. The Timberwolves’ defense is suspect this season and there still seems to be a funk with that franchise with the ongoing drama of Jimmy Butler. If bettors don’t like taking a road dog, you can’t be faulted for taking the OVER either.
