Minnesota Timberwolves at Portland Trail Blazers
Time: 10:05 PM ET, Jan 25, 2014
Spread: POR -7.5
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The Minnesota Timberwolves are 21-21 on the season and have won three straight, including a 121-120 victory last night over Golden State (Friday). The T-Wolves will find itself 7.5-point underdogs on the road according to NBA oddsmakers at Bovada.
In the victory over the Warriors, Minnesota was bailed out by shooting guard Kevin Martin hitting a shot in the final seconds. Martin and Kevin Love each finished with 26 points and Nikola Pekovic had 22 rebounds. Point guard RIcky Rubio contributed 12 assists and nine points. The T-Wolves have the NBA’s second highest scoring offense, but rank 21st defensively. Poor transition defense is a reason for giving up 102 points to opponents.
The Wolves are just 9-13 on the road this season and are playing on the second night of a back to back. The Blazers are 32-11 on the season and have the league’s highest scoring offense (109.1 points per game) while ranking 27th in defense (103.5 points allowed per game).
The Blazers tandem of Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge has been sensational. Aldridge may have been snubbed as an All-Star starter by the fans, but the coaches certainly will not overlook his 24.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Lillard won Rookie of the Year honors last season and has improved even more in his sophomore campaign, averaging 21 points and 5.7 assists per game.
The Blazers’ other starters are contributing, too, as Nic Batum, Wes Matthews and Robin Lopez all average double figures. Batum and Matthews are both very good shooters and Lopez has benefitted from all of the double teams thrown at Aldridge.
MIN Trends: OVER 5-0 in last 5 when opponent scores 100 or more in previous game; OVER 6-1-1 in last 8 after allowing 100 or more in previous game; 6-1 ATS in last 7 when opponent allows 100 or more in previous game.
POR Trends: UNDER 4-0 in last 4 following ATS loss; UNDER 4-1 in last 5 vs teams with losing road records; UNDER 4-1 in last 5 home games.
Head-to-head: OVER 5-0-1 in last 6 meetings in Portland; Timberwolves 1-4 ATS in last 5 meetings in Portland, Timberwolves 6-20 ATS in last 26 meetings.
