When the Indiana Pacers lost their best player, Victor Oladipo, to a season-ending injury on January 23, they were all but written off after a promising start to this season. The Pacers lost their first four games after the injury but have gone 8-3 SU and 7-4 ATS in the 11 games since. Indiana is a 4.5-point favorite at home to Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The total is 221.5.
Timberwolves vs Pacers Game Center
Standout Stats
- The Timberwolves are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games. They had a six-game ATS win streak snapped by losing to Atlanta as 5-point favorites in their last game.
- A big reason for Indiana’s success in February has been their 49.8 percent field-goal shooting (first) and their 39.4 percent three-point shooting (third).
- In February, Indiana has held opponents to 101.2 points per game (first) on 44.4 percent field-goal shooting (fifth). Minnesota is a middle-of-the-road offensive team, so I’d expect them to be below season averages in this game.
- The T-Wolves are scoring 117 points per game in February. Amazingly, they’re also allowing 117 points per game, for an even point differential. With all those points, it’s no surprise that seven of Minnesota’s last nine games have gone OVER the total with an average of 236.3 points.
- Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points in the first meeting this season, a game that Minnesota won 101-91. Indiana center Myles Turner picked up five fouls in that game, and played only 26 minutes.
- Minnesota is winless on the road since being placed under a 30-year curse by Ja Rule. The T-Wolves are 1-5 SU and 3-3 ATS in their last six road games.
- The Pacers are 23-8 SU on home court with the O/U going 9-22 in those games. They have the No. 1 scoring defense in the league and are allowing just 99.2 points per game on home court.
My Pick For Timberwolves vs Pacers
UNDER 221.5
I’m going to trust the recent trend of Minnesota struggling on the road combined with Indiana’s superb home defense and predict this game to go UNDER 221.5 points. The first meeting played to just 192 points and the Wolves have a history of playing to lower scores against good defensive teams.
In the past month, Minnesota played to 214 points at Memphis, 213 points vs Denver, 196 at home to the Grizzlies and 208 points in Utah.
When those stats are combined with the overwhelming UNDER stats at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, I feel like this is the best bet and I’ve locked it in already before like-minded bettors push the number down.
