The New Orleans Pelicans lost a big game at Houston on Sunday, putting their playoff hopes in serious jeopardy. Fortunately for New Orleans, the Oklahoma City Thunder also lost at Indiana. The Pelicans will need a win here in Minnesota to keep the dream alive, but they can't take anything for granted playing on the road on back-to-back nights against a young Timberwolves team with nothing to lose.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Previous History - The Wolves have won and covered in four of their last five home games against New Orleans. The lone loss came by just eight points, and the visitors are asked to cover a much bigger number tonight.

2. Home Cookin' - The Pelicans have a terrible road record of 16-24, and the road team is just 1-8 ATS in the last nine games in this series.

3. X-Factor - New Orleans has only won twice in it's last eight road games, and only one of those came by a margin as great as the number in tonight's game.

Selection: This is a play on the Minnesota Timberwolves(10*)