Can Minnesota Hold Onto First Place In The West?

Now that the NFL is over, many people will shift their focus to the NBA.

The Minnesota Timberwolves will take on the Los Angeles Clippers in an exciting Western Conference matchup between two of the best teams in the NBA.

We saw many NBA trades at the deadline. However, the Clippers didn’t make any. Los Angeles would’ve been buyers but likely didn’t see any major fits for their team. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves, at 36-16. added Monte Morris as a solid role player for the squad.

Morris won’t be an X-factor for the Timberwolves, but it’s at least something.

The Timberwolves have been trading wins for losses recently. Meanwhile, the Clippers have been the hottest team in the NBA over the last month.

Therefore, the Clippers are currently -4 (-115) against the spread, with the total at 222.5 for this game.

Take a look at our breakdown of the Timberwolves vs Clippers lines below.

Timberwolves vs Clippers Lines & Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves had gone 27-25 against the spread this season. On the flip side, the Under has hit in 27 games, while the Over has hit in 25 matchups.

Minnesota has also gone 17-11 on the road, which isn’t so bad. However, the Timberwolves are taking on a Clippers team that is 20-5 at home and 28-23 against the spread.

But like Minnesota, Los Angeles has hit the Under in more games than the Over. The Clippers have hit the Over in 22 games but the Under in 29 games this season.

The Timberwolves and Clippers played in one game earlier this year on January 14. Minnesota hung on, at home, 109-105, as one-point underdogs.

Minnesota Welcomes Monte Morris

The Timberwolves traded for some guard depth in a deal that landed Monte Morris.

Morris has always been a solid floor general in his time in the NBA. The current Minnesota boss, Tim Connelly, drafted him.

Morris is usually a great decision-maker. He can run an offense well and can make shots from anywhere on the floor.

Morris has been sidelined with a quadriceps injury for most of the season. But he was cleared to play in late January with the Pistons before getting traded to Minnesota.

The Timberwolves agreed that it’ll take some time for him to get back to the high level of play he’s capable of playing. But he’s more of an addition for the playoffs anyway.

Is Norman Powell Okay?

The Clippers earned a hard-fought win over the Pistons on Saturday. However, Norman Powell had to leave the game after a collision with Jalen Duren made him bleed all over the court.

Powell was caught in the middle of the paint after looking for a rebound against the Pistons when crashing the glass.

He had to be helped off the court. However, ESPN reported that he received stitches and appears to be okay.
Powell has averaged 13.4 points per game with 2.6 rebounds and one assist and is shooting nearly 50% from the floor. His consistency in the scoring department is always needed. It’s good to see he’ll be alright after a scary accident.

A Rock Fight In Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Clippers have held opponents to 113.9 points per 100 possessions this NBA season. Teams are only shooting a 52.3% effective field goal percentage against Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the Clippers have also added 13.8% of turnovers. That’s big, with the Timberwolves turning the ball over at a high pace of 15.2%.

The Clippers aren’t always effective on the defensive glass. But the Timberwolves also aren’t super consistent on the offensive glass either. The Timberwolves have added only 26.3% of offensive rebounds, while the Clippers have given up 28% of offensive rebounds.

Los Angeles has also held teams to a 19.4 free throw rate, which is a top-ten rate in the NBA.

On the other hand, the Clippers have one of the best offenses in the NBA. They’re just facing one of the only defenses that can stop them at a solid rate.

The Timberwolves rank No. 1 in the nation in points per 100 possessions and effective field goal percentage defensively. Minnesota is also in the top ten in turnover percentage and free throw percentage defensively. The Timberwolves also held teams to a 26.3% offensive rebounds, which is another top-ten rate in the NBA.

The LA Clippers have more ability on the offensive glass and limit turnovers more. We wouldn’t be surprised if the Clippers won this game based on their offense. At the end of the day, Los Angeles has added 121.8 points per 100 possessions and an effective field goal percentage of 57.8%.

They’re an elite offense in the NBA. But Minnesota’s elite defense should at least limit the Clippers in this game.

The NBA odds that stand out to me are the totals for his matchup. Both teams are going to be high seeds in the NBA Tournament standings. Therefore, we believe this game will be a rock fight and a massive defensive battle.

When looking at the Timberwolves vs Clippers lines, we’ll back the Under 222.5 (-110) for this matchup.

For NBA betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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