The Los Angeles Clippers spent much of the season wandering through the wilderness without star players Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. With George’s return, sports betting guides show the Clippers could be an interesting first-round matchup for a team should they make it out of the Western Conference play-in round. Los Angeles closed out the season on a high note, piling up five consecutive wins to bring their record above .500.
Minnesota slowed down toward the end of the season, closing with a 4-6 record. However, this is a good opportunity for the Timberwolves to show how far the franchise has come. Minnesota is seeking to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Betting stats NBA will provide good insight into which one of these teams will punch a ticket into the first round of the playoffs.
Last games records
Minnesota lost to Chicago 124-120 April 10 at home. The Timberwolves are 46-36. Los Angeles beat Oklahoma City 138-88. The Clippers are 42-40.
Matchup Information
Clippers at Timberwolves Betting Analysis
Los Angeles Clippers Betting Analysis
When the Clippers had Paul George in the lineup, Los Angeles battered Minnesota. The Clippers won the of the team’s four regular-season meetings. In Los Angeles’ three victories George scored 32, 21, and 23 points in games the Clippers won by a combined 58 points. Due to missing George, who averaged 24.3 points per game in 31 appearances, for a majority of the season, Los Angeles’ offense had its struggles.
The Clippers rank 23rd in the league in scoring offense, averaging 108.4 points per game. Los Angeles is also 21st in field goal percentage, making 45.8 percent of its shots from the field. However, the Clippers have had strong perimeter shooting all year, knocking down 37.4 percent of their 3-pointers, ranking third in the league. George has gotten plenty of support on offense this season from Reggie Jackson (16.8 points per game), Marcus Morris Sr. (15.4) and Luke Kennard (11.9) all average in double-figures scoring.
Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Analysis
Minnesota should feel confident with how it progressed this season. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch was rewarded with a contract extension for the success the team has had thus far. Minnesota is led by star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who averages 24.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
Small forward Anthony Edwards has developed into an outstanding second option, averaging 21.3 points per game. Point guard D’Angelo Russell also hands out 7.1 assists in addition to scoring 18.1 points per game. Minnesota’s offense ended the season as the league’s top-scoring offense, as the Timberwolves averaged 115.9 points per game.
Minnesota has had its share of issues on defense, ranking 24th in the league by allowing 113.3 points per game. The Timberwolves also allow their opponents to shoot 46 percent from the field, which ranks 16th.
Updates
Los Angeles shooting guard Luke Kennard is questionable with a hamstring injury. Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell is questionable with an illness.
- Minnesota is 42-38-2 against the spread.
- Los Angeles is 41-41 against the spread.
- The over is 50-32 in the Timberwolves games this season.
- The over is 38-41-3 in the Clippers’ games this season.
- Minnesota is 2-8 against the spread over its past 10 games.
- Los Angeles is 5-2 against the spread over its past seven games.
Clippers at Timberwolves Betting Preview
NBA betting odds have Minnesota as a 3.5-point favorite. The Timberwolves are -157 on the moneyline, while the Clippers are +132. Anyone looking to make different kinds of NBA picks can bet on the over/under, which has been set at 230.5.
Clippers at Timberwolves Betting Prediction
Minnesota has had an excellent season and has a number of different scoring options. The Timberwolves have been their continuity throughout the season are a much different team than the group that dropped three lopsided decisions to the Clippers in November. Minnesota is a team that is also eager to earn a spot in the first round.
Los Angeles did return George, but he was only able to get five games in before the postseason starter. There will likely still be growing pains for the Clippers as they try to learn how to play together again to extend their season. George will likely have another big game scoring, but that won’t matter this time. Los Angeles will keep this game close, but Minnesota will protect the home court and cover the spread.
Bet Minnesota -3.5.
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