Nets vs. Timberwolves Prediction, Picks for Saturday, Feb. 24
Here's everything you need to know about Nets vs. Timberwolves on Saturday, Feb. 24 — our expert prediction and betting picks for today.
Let's get to our Nets vs. Timberwolves prediction and pick.
Nets vs. Timberwolves Prediction
Pick: Wolves ML -300
Nets Betting Outlook
There were no Nets participating in NBA All Star Weekend, but the team did make some news as they fired Head Coach Jacque Vaughn. Fun fact – Vaughn has been the head coach of the Nets on two different occasions, and both in the short time they have been in Brooklyn! Now the Nets promote interim Kevin Ollie… and I'm afraid this gives me real cause for pause.
Ollie was the head coach at UConn when the team was led by Kemba Walker and won the NCAA Title. He then coached the G League team Overtime Elite and developed quite a few NBA prospects. Ollie has always been linked to NBA jobs and wanted one, most notably the Pistons this summer, but he has never coached in these ranks before.
With the Nets already facing quite a talent deficit, I fear they are at a large coaching deficit too – going up against the second-favorite for NBA Coach of the Year in Chris Finch. The Nets do have a rest advantage, but it is hard to see what other edges lie here.
Timberwolves Betting Outlook
The Minnesota Timberwolves are not only the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, they have a league-best +6 home games remaining on their schedule and face a weighted opponent record of sub .500. Despite being on the second night of a back to back, I expect the Wolves to come out firing for a win and wanting to secure home wins against losing teams.
The Wolves lost to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, but matchups presented lots of trouble with a center who can shoot in Lopez and a PF in Giannis who can relentlessly attack the rim and overwhelm Karl Anthony Towns. The Nets simply do not have these mismatch options, so I am of low level of concern coming off a loss.
The important aspect will be timing this bet for the right price.
Nets vs. Timberwolves Picks, Odds
| Nets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+8.5 -112 | 219 -108o / -112u | +275 |
| Timberwolves Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-8.5 -108 | 219 -108o / -112u | -345 |
The point spread is current -7.5 on the Wolves side, and 7 is the most common outcome in NBA games, so it hurts not to get on the hook. If 7.5 is the best available option, in this case consider the back to back – I prefer to play the moneyline, currently -300 at BetMGM.
There have been a few ticks of movement towards the Nets side, and I think that is a reflection of uncertainty of resting guys in the back to back with playoffs looming. I doubt the Wolves sit key players for this one, but I am personally going to wait until shoot around to monitor reports of player participation. If we see Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony Towns are not at shoot around in the early afternoon, then I feel much differently about the bet! If you can time the news that they both are at shoot around and take it immediately upon that drop, you will get a great price.
Pick: Wolves -300
