The Minnesota Timberwolves have championship aspirations this season. After two straight appearances in the conference finals, they’re ready to get over the hump. Tonight’s game against the Utah Jazz is another chance for them to prove they are prepared to make the leap.
The Timberwolves are 7.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. They’re priced at -305 on the Moneyline, while the Jazz are +245 underdogs. The total for this game is set at 235.5 points. Let’s get into my preview, prediction, and pick for this Timberwolves vs. Jazz game.
Timberwolves vs. Jazz prediction, preview
The story of the year for Minnesota so far is the re-emergence of Julius Randle. He was a great player for the Timberwolves last season, and in his second year up north, he’s taking a huge step. Last year, Randle averaged a shade under 19 PPG with 7.1 RPG, 4.7 APG, and 0.7 steals per game. This year, he’s at 25.2/7.1/6.1 and 1.1 steals per game. It’s the kind of performance that not only demands All-Star attention, but it’s one that could change Minnesota’s ceiling drastically.
Jaden McDaniels’ improvements as a scorer cannot be overlooked either. The defensive Swiss Army Knife has stepped his offensive game up with a 6.4 PPG jump from last season, largely thanks to some scorching three-point shooting. With Anthony Edwards continuing to hand out buckets at a prolific pace, the Jazz are in hot water.
Defense sure was the problem for Utah on Friday against this same Timberwolves team as the Jazz gave up a whopping 137 points. On the season, they rank in the bottom-10 in both defensive and offensive ratings as the tank continues. Utah may be Cruisin’ for a Boozin’ with stud Cam Boozer at the top of the upcoming draft, but some of the other players here continue to develop. Lauri Markkanen is back in form, and Keyonte George is taking significant steps on offense. Those two players make the Jazz watchable, which is more than some of the other tanking squads can say.
Can they make it a close contest this time around, or will the Wolves run free once again?
Timberwolves vs. Jazz pick, best bet
The absence of Walker Kessler cannot be overstated. Utah’s defensive anchor not only changes how they defend, but he can keep the unit’s head above water on the boards. With him now sidelined for the season, the Jazz are exposed against big rebounders and don’t have the tools to protect the paint. Rudy Gobert can eat on the glass, Edwards and Randle can drive at will, and there’s little in the way of another Minnesota victory.
