Cleveland Cavaliers at Minnesota Timberwolves
Time: 7 PM CT (ESPN)
Spread: CLE -10
Total: 195.5
Betting odds c/o 5dimes
The Minnesota Timberwolves may be the third-worst team in the Western Conference so far, but with the glut of young talent and veteran leadership the Wolves cannot be written off just yet. However, there are few tasks headier than challenging the defending Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs will visit Minnesota as 10-point favorites for the game which is the first of an ESPN double-header beginning at 7 PM Central.
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Minnesota has lost eight of its past nine games and the most recent came to both the Denver Nuggets and lowly Philadelphia 76ers. The young Wolves have the pieces intact though to put together a dangerous team as it grows. Last year’s Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins is averaging 20.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while playing 34 minutes a night. Rookie Karl-Anthony Towns is posting the highest PER of any rookie at 21.7, and tallying averages of 15.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.52 blocks/steals per game.
Even backup point guard Zach LaVine has blossomed, and the 2015 dunk contest champ is averaging 13.1 points and three rebounds per game. Ricky Rubio has run the ship well with nine assists per game and an 18.2 PER. Minnesota has the pieces to put together a run this year, and it is a team far better than its record shows.
Minnesota is, of course, intimately tied to its opponent tonight since the Cavs feature one-time Timberwolves forward Kevin Love heavily. Love is the third-fiddle again with Kyrie Irving having returned in Cleveland. But Love is averaging 16.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 32 minutes a night and helped the Cavs hold it together until Irving returned.
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Kyrie looked just like his old self in the 121-115 victory over the Washington Wizards. Irving had 32 points on 14 of 22 shooting, five rebounds and three assists. He also came up with a pair of steals and a block, and with him playing like this the Warriors will have reasons to fear Cleveland this year.
LeBron James is still being LeBron James, and this season has been good for 25.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 35 minutes a game. James also comes up with 2.16 steals/blocks per game while shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor on 19.6 attempts per night. He is still indisputably the best player in the league, and he is flanked again by two All-Stars, just like in Miami.
It stands to reason that if Cleveland remains healthy it gives the Warriors a tough run in the 2016 Finals. And yes, it is early to say all of that, but the Cavs are the best team in the East so it is also merely giving credit when due.
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ATS TRENDS
| Cleveland |
- Cavaliers are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win.
- Cavaliers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Cavaliers are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
- Cavaliers are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 vs. Western Conference.
- Cavaliers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Cavaliers are 4-14-1 ATS in their last 19 games following a ATS loss.
- Cavaliers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
- Cavaliers are 1-10-1 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Cavaliers are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
- Cavaliers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 road games.
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| Minnesota |
- Timberwolves are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Timberwolves are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Timberwolves are 16-39-1 ATS in their last 56 home games.
- Timberwolves are 9-23-1 ATS in their last 33 games following a straight up loss.
- Timberwolves are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Timberwolves are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Timberwolves are 2-10-1 ATS in their last 13 games following a ATS loss.
- Timberwolves are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Timberwolves are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring less than 75 points in their previous game.
- Timberwolves are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
- Timberwolves are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Timberwolves are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Central.
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OU TRENDS
| Cleveland |
- Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 7-1 in Cavaliers last 8 road games.
- Under is 5-1 in Cavaliers last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 Friday games.
- Under is 7-2 in Cavaliers last 9 overall.
- Over is 10-3 in Cavaliers last 13 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 9-3 in Cavaliers last 12 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 6-2 in Cavaliers last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 14-5 in Cavaliers last 19 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
- Under is 7-3 in Cavaliers last 10 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
- Under is 16-7 in Cavaliers last 23 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Under is 11-5-1 in Cavaliers last 17 vs. NBA Northwest.
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| Minnesota |
- Under is 6-0 in Timberwolves last 6 home games.
- Under is 4-1 in Timberwolves last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 6-2 in Timberwolves last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 6-2 in Timberwolves last 8 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 5-2 in Timberwolves last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 5-2 in Timberwolves last 7 games after scoring less than 75 points in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Timberwolves last 7 vs. NBA Central.
- Under is 5-2 in Timberwolves last 7 games following a ATS loss.
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HEAD TO HEAD
- Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Minnesota.
- Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
- Favorite is 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
- Cavaliers are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Minnesota.
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Cleveland Cavaliers at Minnesota Timberwolves
