San Antonio Spurs AT Minnesota Timberwolves
Jan 11th, 2011 at 8:00 PM EST
Opening Line: San Antonio -6
Current Line: San Antonio -6.5
Opening Total: 207
Current Total: 206
Opening Moneyline: San Antonio -250 / Minnesota +210
Current Moneyline: San Antonio -295 / Minnesota +235
The Spurs haven’t had problems with many teams this year, but for some strange reason, Kevin Love and the Timberwolves have given the Spurs fits this year and for a game between a 9-29 team against a 31-6 team, NBA Oddsmakers have set the line remarkably close.
“Minnesota has been tough for us. As far as I’m concerned, they’re 24-6 or something,” Popovich said. “They play their butts off and they run good stuff.”
Kevin Love takes some optimism but with a shred of disappointment on the matter. He desperately wants to win, but just doesn’t have the personnell to do it.
“It’s pretty frustrating because we match up against them pretty well. We’ve taken them to three very very tight games; an overtime game,” said Love, “We owe them one on Tuesday, hopefully we can get that one and not sulk on (Sunday’s loss).”
Love has averaged 25 points per game and 19 rebounds per game against the Spurs this year, both higher than his season averages of 21.2 and 15.7. While he’s undoubtedly not 6’10” and Duncan is every bit of 6’11”, Love has managed to use his undersized body to box out even the biggest big men, and will probably have near 20 or over 20 rebounds tonight.
Some betting trends:
San Antonio is 16-3 SU in their last 19 games and the total has gone OVER In 5 of their last 6 on the road. They are 11-4 SU in their last 15 raod games and the total has gone UNDER In 6 of ther last 9 games against the Wolves. San Antonio is 5-0 SU in their last 5 against Minnesota and 5-0 SU in their last 5 road games, as well. The total has gone OVER in 8 of the last 10 games on the road in Minnesota.
Minnesota is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games and the total has gone OVER in 6 of their last 7 at home. They are 8-17 SU in their last 25 home games.
Key Matchups:
Tim Duncan vs. Kevin Love
Tim Duncan still has some left in the tank, but not enough to slow down energizer bunny Kevin Love, who is ferocious on the boards and can play all over the court on offense (despite being a rugged power forward he hits 43% from three). Duncan will have to play a “vintage Duncan” game to have any chance against Love tonight, but even if he can’t contain Love, it may not matter. Love and Beasley have been going wild against every team and because they don’t have much help offensively, it hasn’t mattered. As mentioned above, Love has had his way with the Spurs and will probably again tonight, but will this be the night that Minnesota doesn’t just come close against San Antonio, but actually wins it?
