Defensively Dominant Timberwolves Look to Stay Supreme
Kings vs Timberwolves Spreads, Odds and More
The Timberwolves have been a top team in the league all year and a few days off for all-star break doesn’t seem to have broken their stride. On the other hand, the Kings sit smack in the middle of the crowded Western Conference playoff race.
They have yet to separate themselves from the pack. Can the Kings surprise the West’s best on their home turf? Lines opened with the Timberwolves as 6.5-point favorites and 224 on the total (-110 either way) at home Friday. Let’s look at more Kings vs Timberwolves spreads and trends and see what we can find.
Kings vs Timberwolves 
Day/Time:
Records: Kings (33-25)/Timberwolves (42-17)
Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Streaming: Bally Sports North, NBCSCA
Timberwolves Have High Hopes
Check the NBA box scores because the Timberwolves are red hot. Actually, they’ve been hot all season. Anthony Edwards is becoming a bona fide superstar, and Rudy Gobert is returning to his Defensive Player of the Year form (Gobert is currently a -750 favorite to win the award for a record-tying fourth time).
They say that “defense wins championships”, and Timberwolves fans are surely hoping that is true. The Wolves have championship hopes for the first time since the Garnett era and it all rides on their league’s #1 ranked defense.
Defensive Rating – Last 15 Games
1. Minnesota Timberwolves – 104.6 (!!!)
——————————————-
T2. Oklahoma City Thunder – 109.5
T2. Cleveland Cavaliers – 109.5
4. Golden State Warriors – 109.9
5. Milwaukee Bucks – 110.3The Timberwolves Defense has been… pic.twitter.com/vO048tEkgJ
— Matt Throne (@Matt_Throne) February 28, 2024
Fortunately for Timberwolves optimists, the oddsmakers aren’t buying them as legitimate contenders. Even as the 1st seed in the hyper-competitive Western Conference, the Wolves’ NBA finals odds currently are fifth highest to win the West at +900.
The Timberwolves certainly deserve to be favored at home as they’ve proved themselves as a regular-season juggernaut, but the Kings are used to being underestimated and will look to shock the Wolves on Friday.
Kings Potentially Undermanned Without Fox
The King’s chances at winning Friday likely start and end with the NBA injury status of their budding star, De’Aaron Fox. After missing Wednesday’s game with a left knee contusion the Kings will need to look elsewhere for scoring and playmaking.
If the Kings are without Fox Friday, their second star, Domantas Sabonis (who currently leads the league in double and triple-doubles) will need to step up.
Domantas Sabonis has moved up to No. 6 in the NBA this season, per HoopsHype’s Global Rating. pic.twitter.com/2WXIJmkNXf
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) February 23, 2024
The Kings’ recent form is concerning, with a 3-4 record without Fox and a 4-6 record in their last 10 games. They face an uphill battle to avoid the play-in tournament, and Friday’s matchup against the Timberwolves won’t be a walk in the park.
If Fox is out again, Chris Duarte is an interesting name to look at. The former Oregon Ducks star excelled in the King’s loss to the Nuggets on Wednesday. Duarte scored 18 points, more than quadrupling his NBA season average of four points a game.
He has had double-digit scoring in four of the seven games he’s played without Fox this season. Check out his NBA player props on Friday to see if you can grab an easy over on his points total.
Timberwolves Will Keep Things Low Scoring
Right now the Kings are 29-29 ATS and 31-27-1 on over/under totals while the Timberwolves are 30-28-1 ATS and 29-30 on totals, proving the oddsmakers have a fairly good idea of what to make of each of these NBA teams. Their first two matchups this year had the home team losing and failing to cover the spread.
Look at the under points total in this matchup. The Timberwolves are 10-17-1 on over/under at home and have gone under in four of their last five home NBA games and four of their last six matchups against Sacramento. It is likely the Timberwolves stifling defense will continue its dominance Friday.
The opening line for Kings vs Timberwolves spreads of -6.5 and current total of 224 (-110) is likely factoring in the possibility of Fox returning from injury. If Fox is out again expect the rolling Timberwolves to be favored by double digits.
Even if Fox plays, signs point to the Timberwolves locking in on defense and keeping this one far out of Sacramento’s reach.
Take these Kings vs Timberwolves spreads and tune in on Friday to find out what will happen in a game that could easily be a preview of the first round of this year’s NBA playoff bracket.
For NBA betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
