Timberwolves vs. Thunder NBA Play-In Tournament Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 14, 2023

Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves (42-40) will look to fend off Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder (40-42) on April 14, 2023. The Timberwolves are a 5.5-point favorite. A 228.5-point over/under has been set for the game.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder Odds

• Timberwolves odds to win: -217
• Thunder odds to win: +178
• Spread: Timberwolves (-5.5)
• Total: 228.5

Timberwolves vs. Thunder Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• When: Friday, April 14, 2023 at 9:30 PM ET
• Where: Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota
• TV: ESPN

Who Will Win Timberwolves vs. Thunder?

Timberwolves and Thunder Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

In games they have played as at least 5.5-point favorites this season, the Timberwolves are 9-12-1 against the spread.

In games this season in which they were an underdog by 5.5 points or more, the Thunder have a 16-9-1 record against the spread.

The Timberwolves and the Thunder combine to average 4.8 more points per game than the over/under of 228.5 set for this game.

Opponents of these two teams have averaged a combined 232.2 points per game, 3.7 more than the point total for this game.

The Timberwolves’ average point total in matchups this season is 231.6, 3.1 points higher than the over/under in this game.

The average point total for Oklahoma City this season is 5.4 points higher than this game’s over/under.

Minnesota’s ATS record is 39-41-2 this season.

The Thunder’s ATS record is 47-34-1 this year.

Timberwolves Stats & Insights

The Timberwolves average 115.8 points per game (12th in the league) while giving up 115.8 per contest (18th in the NBA). They have a -3 scoring differential overall.

The Timberwolves lose the rebound battle by an average of 2.8 boards. They are pulling down 41.9 rebounds per game (23rd in the league) compared to their opponents’ 44.7 per contest.

Minnesota hits 12.2 three-pointers per game (13th in the league), while its opponents have made 12.3 on average.

The Timberwolves rank 23rd in the league by averaging 111.3 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively are 10th in the NBA, allowing 111.1 points per 100 possessions.

The Timberwolves’ offense has been much better in home games (115.9 PPG) compared to away games (115.6 PPG). Similarly, their defense has been better at home (115.0 PPG allowed) compared to away games (116.6 PPG allowed).

Thunder Stats & Insights

The Thunder have a +89 scoring differential, topping opponents by 1.1 points per game. They’re putting up 117.5 points per game, fifth in the league, and are allowing 116.4 per outing to rank 19th in the NBA.

Oklahoma City loses the rebound battle by 2.9 boards on average. It collects 43.7 rebounds per game, 12th in the league, while its opponents grab 46.6.

The Thunder hit 12.1 three-pointers per game (15th in the league) at a 35.6% rate (17th in NBA), compared to the 12.9 their opponents make, shooting 35.8% from deep.

The Thunder’s 112.3 points per 100 possessions on offense rank 14th in the NBA, and the 111.4 points they allow per 100 possessions rank 11th in the league.

At home Oklahoma City is putting up 120.8 points per game, 6.7 more than it is averaging away (114.1).

Timberwolves Key Players to Watch

The scoring leader for the Timberwolves this season is Edwards (among active players), who averages 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game.

Mike Conley is averaging 11.9 points, 6.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds a game, while Rudy Gobert adds 13.4 points, 1.2 assists and 11.6 rebounds per contest.

Edwards leads active Timberwolves in three-point shooting, making an average of 2.7 shots per game from beyond the arc.

Edwards averages 1.6 steals per game, while Gobert has 1.4 blocks per contest.

Thunder Key Players to Watch

Josh Giddey grabs 7.9 rebounds per game, 6.2 assists per game, and 16.6 points per game.

Gilgeous-Alexander has per-game averages of 31.4 points, 5.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds this season.

Isaiah Joe cashes in on 2.2 treys per game.

Gilgeous-Alexander is a strong defensive option with 1.6 steals and 1.0 block per game.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder Prediction

• Pick ATS: Thunder (+ 5.5)
• Pick OU:

  Over (228.5)
  

• Prediction:
  Timberwolves 117 – Thunder 115

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