PREMIUM
Rogers' TOTAL DOMINATION >> SEVEN STRAIGHT NBA WINNERS!
(NBA) Minnesota vs. Atlanta,
Total: 215.00 | -105.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 215.00 | -105.00 Over
Result: Win
The set-up: The Minnesota Timberwolves are a different team with Jimmy Butler in the lineup and the All-Star guard's return helped them avoid a three-game slide. Butler sat out four games with right knee soreness and watched his team fall to fellow Western Conference playoff contenders Portland and Golden State on the road before returning on Saturday and helping Minnesota to a 111-97 home win over the Brooklyn Nets. Butler will continue to shake off the rust and try to lead the Timberwolves to back-to-back victories when they visit the NBA-worst Atlanta Hawks (14-35) on Monday. Atlanta just allowed the Washington Wizards to shoot 57.6 percent from the floor in a 129-104 loss on Saturday and the team's latest slide (just three games), has seen them allow an average of 119.3 PPG.
Minnesota: Minnesota surrendered an average of 119 points in the four games that Butler missed but forced 16 turnovers in the easy win, while allowing 97 points. "Defense is what wins this game," All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who added three blocks and a steal to his 16 points and 19 rebounds, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The double-double was an NBA-leading 43rd for Towns, who is averaging 20.1 & 12.2. Butler averages a team-high 21.7 PPG (also 5.4 RPG & 5.0 APG) and Wiggins 18.2 & 4.2. That trio is joined by PG Teague (13.3 & 6.9 APG), PF Gibson (12.1 & 7.5) and sixth-man Crawford (10.0) in double digits.
Atlanta: The Hawks now lean heavily on PG Dennis Schroder (19.6 & 6.4 APG), who has replaced Jeff Teague. However, Atlanta needs more consistency from the supporting players on the offensive end. The team does have six players other than Schroder averaging in double digits but the team is averaging only 103.5 PPG (21st).
The pick: Despite their far different records, the 32-20 Timberwolves and the 14-35 Hawks have the same record against the opposite conference. Minnesota is 8-11 against the East and Atlanta is 8-11 against the West. Minnesota has the second-best home record in the NBA at 20-6 but the Timberwolves have lost six of their past seven on the road going into tonight's game in Atlanta. The Timberwolves defeated the Hawks 82-84 in Atlanta and 104-90 in Minnesota last season. Expect another low-scoring game, making the Under an 8* play.
Minnesota: Minnesota surrendered an average of 119 points in the four games that Butler missed but forced 16 turnovers in the easy win, while allowing 97 points. "Defense is what wins this game," All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who added three blocks and a steal to his 16 points and 19 rebounds, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The double-double was an NBA-leading 43rd for Towns, who is averaging 20.1 & 12.2. Butler averages a team-high 21.7 PPG (also 5.4 RPG & 5.0 APG) and Wiggins 18.2 & 4.2. That trio is joined by PG Teague (13.3 & 6.9 APG), PF Gibson (12.1 & 7.5) and sixth-man Crawford (10.0) in double digits.
Atlanta: The Hawks now lean heavily on PG Dennis Schroder (19.6 & 6.4 APG), who has replaced Jeff Teague. However, Atlanta needs more consistency from the supporting players on the offensive end. The team does have six players other than Schroder averaging in double digits but the team is averaging only 103.5 PPG (21st).
The pick: Despite their far different records, the 32-20 Timberwolves and the 14-35 Hawks have the same record against the opposite conference. Minnesota is 8-11 against the East and Atlanta is 8-11 against the West. Minnesota has the second-best home record in the NBA at 20-6 but the Timberwolves have lost six of their past seven on the road going into tonight's game in Atlanta. The Timberwolves defeated the Hawks 82-84 in Atlanta and 104-90 in Minnesota last season. Expect another low-scoring game, making the Under an 8* play.
