The Minnesota Timberwolves (11-10) visit Capital One Arena on Wednesday to take on the Washington Wizards (13-8) in the nation’s capital. The game will begin at 7 p.m. ET. We examine the Timberwolves vs. Wizards odds and lines below, as well as our NBA picks, predictions, and wagers.
The Timberwolves have won seven of their previous eight games, including back-to-back triumphs against the 76ers and Pacers. The T-Wolves have a net rating of 9.0 and are 10-11 ATS and 8-13 O/U.
Washington has only won three of its last seven games, the most recent of which was a 116-99 thrashing at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs as a 3.5-point road underdog. The Wizards have a net rating of 15th and are 11-10 ATS and 8-13 O/U.
Last season, the Wizards thrashed the Timberwolves by 21 and 16 points in both regular-season meetings, and the Over has cashed in seven straight Wizards-Timberwolves games.
Odds, spreads, and lines for Timberwolves vs. Wizards
Tipico Sportsbook provided the odds; for a complete list, visit USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds. At 10:40 a.m. ET, the lines were last updated.
Timberwolves +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Wizards -180 (bet $180 to win $100) are the money lines.
ATS (against the spread): Wizards -4.5 (-115) | Timberwolves +4.5 (-115) (-107)
216.5 (O: -107 | U: -115) Over/Under (O/U)
Timberwolves at Wizards key injuries
Timberwolves
SG Anthony Edwards (illness) questionable
SF Jaden McDaniels (illness) questionable
PF Jarred Vanderbilt (illness) questionable
PG Patrick Beverly (groin) out
Wizards
C Thomas Bryant (knee) out
PF Rui Hachimura (personal) out
Timberwolves at Wizards odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Wizards 109, Timberwolves 102
Money line
Because this is on the edge of my price range for an NBA regular-season money line favorite, “LEAN” to the WIZARDS (-180). To be honest, I’m going to hold off on betting until I see how the market develops this line.
At the time of publication, the majority of the market is betting Minnesota plus the points as well as Washington’s money line. I could see the Wizards’ money line dropping to -150 or perhaps lower if money continues to pour in on the T-Wolves.
Against the spread, “LEAN” to the WIZARDS -4.5 (-107) because they are the better team, regardless of whether you choose to bet against Washington.
There’s something to be said for fading the recency bias against the Timberwolves, who have been on a roll lately. According to the Yahoo! Sports App, Minnesota has over 85% of the action, while Washington has just been thrashed by a weak Spurs team.
The Wizards, on the other hand, perform admirably against top-tier opposition. Minnesota boasts a top-10 efficiency differential, which may surprise some.
Washington is 5-3 all-time against top-10 teams in efficiency differential, with a plus-3.0 ATS advantage. Last season, the Wizards ranked 10th in efficiency difference and third in ATS margin against top-10 opponents.
Furthermore, Washington’s defense has a handful of advantages over Minnesota’s defense in terms of strength-on-weakness.
According to ShotQuality.com, the T-Wolves attempt the second-most catch-and-shoot 3-pointers in the NBA, and they get out in transition at the ninth-highest rate.
Washington’s defense ranks third in shot quality versus catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and fourth in transition offense efficiency.
Because of the aforementioned methods Washington could impede Minnesota’s attack, the Over/Under is “LEAN” to the UNDER 216.5 (-115).
The T-Wolves have the second-best defensive 3-point % in the league, while the Wizards are 26th. In terms of defensive effective field goal shooting, both teams are in the top eight.
Plus, according to the Yahoo! Sports App, the vast majority of the market is betting the Over, owing to the fact that seven straight Wizards-Timberwolves games have gone over the total. With the UNDER 216.6, there are “fade the market” and “buck the head-to-head trend” approaches (-115).
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Washington Wizards (7 p.m. ET)
Timberwolves Projected Lineup
PG – D’Angelo Russell
SG – Josh Okogie
SF – Anthony Edwards
PF – Jarred Vanderbilt
C – Karl-Anthony Towns
Injury news: Jarred Vanderbilt (Illness), Jaylen Nowell (Illness), and Anthony Edwards (Illness) are available; Jaden McDaniels (Illness) and Patrick Beverley (Adductor) are out
Wizards Projected Lineup
PG – Spencer Dinwiddie
SG – Bradley Beal
SF – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
PF – Kyle Kuzma
C – Montrezl Harrell
Injury news: Davis Bertans (Ankle) is probable; Aaron Holiday (Illness) is out
Atlanta Hawks vs. Indiana Pacers (7 p.m. ET)
Hawks Projected Lineup
PG – Trae Young
SG – Kevin Huerter
SF – Cam Reddish
PF – John Collins
C – Clint Capela
Injury news: Cam Reddish (Wrist) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (Ankle) are out
Pacers Projected Lineup
PG – Malcolm Brogdon
SG – Caris LeVert
SF – Chris Duarte
PF – Domantas Sabonis
C – Myles Turner
Injury news: Myles Turner (Illness) is available Justin Holiday (COVID Protocols) is out
Denver Nuggets vs. Orlando Magic (7 p.m. ET)
Nuggets Projected Lineup
PG – Monte Morris
SG – Will Barton
SF – Jeff Green
PF – Aaron Gordon
C – Nikola Jokic
Injury news: Will Barton (Back) is probable; JaMychal Green (Elbow) and Zeke Nnaji (Ankle) are questionable; Austin Rivers (COVID Protocols) and Bones Hyland (COVID Protocols) are out
Magic Projected Lineup
PG – Cole Anthony
SG – Gary Harris
SF – Franz Wagner
PF – Wendell Carter Jr.
C – Mo Bamba
Injury news: Jalen Suggs (Thumb) is out
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET)
76ers Projected Lineup
PG – Tyrese Maxey
SG – Seth Curry
SF – Tobias Harris
PF – Shake Milton
C – Joel Embiid
Injury news: Nothing new
Celtics Projected Lineup
PG – Marcus Smart
SG – Jaylen Brown
SF – Jayson Tatum
PF – Al Horford
C – Robert Williams
Injury news: Jaylen Brown (Injury management) is available
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat (7:30 p.m. ET)
Cavaliers Projected Lineup
PG – Darius Garland
SG – Evan Mobley
SF – Isaac Okoro
PF – Lauri Markkanen
C – Jarrett Allen
Injury news: Cedi Osman (Back) and Dean Wade (Calf) is out
Heat Projected Lineup
PG – Kyle Lowry
SG – Tyler Herro
SF – Duncan Robinson
PF – PJ Tucker
C – Dewayne Dedmon
Injury news: Dewayne Dedmon (Knee) and Tyler Herro (Soreness) are available; Jimmy Butler (Back) and Bam Adebayo (Thumb) are out
Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (8 p.m. ET)
Rockets Projected Lineup
PG – Kevin Porter Jr.
SG – Eric Gordon
SF – Garrison Matthews
PF – Jae’Sean Tate
C – Christian Wood
Injury news: DJ Augustin (COVID Protocols) and Jalen Green (Hamstring) are out
Thunder Projected Lineup
PG – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SG – Tre Mann
SF – Lu Dort
PF – Darius Bazley
C – Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Injury news: Josh Giddey out Wednesday due to a non-COVID illness, Derrick Favors (Illness) Kenrich Williams (Ankle) and Mike Muscala (Ankle) are out
Dallas Mavericks vs. New Orleans Pelicans (8 p.m. ET)
Mavericks Projected Lineup
PG – Luka Doncic
SG – Dorian Finney-Smith
SF – Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF – Kristaps Porzingis
C – Dwight Powell
Injury news: Maxi Kleber (Oblique) and Kristaps Porzingis (Ankle) are probable; Willie Cauley-Stein (Personal) and Frank Ntilikina (Calf) are out
Pelicans Projected Lineup
PG – Devonte’ Graham
SG – Nickeil Alexander-Walker
SF – Brandon Ingram
PF – Herb Jones
C – Jonas Valanciunas
Injury news: Josh Hart (Knee) is questionable
Charlotte Hornets vs. Milwaukee Bucks (8 p.m. ET)
Hornets Projected Lineup
PG – Terry Rozier
SG – LaMelo Ball
SF – Gordon Hayward
PF – Miles Bridges
C – PJ Washington
Injury news: Cody Martin (Illness) is questionable; Mason Plumlee (Calf) is out
Bucks Projected Lineup
PG – Jrue Holiday
SG – Grayson Allen
SF – Khris Middleton
PF – Giannis Antetokounmpo
C – Bobby Portis
Injury news: Jordan Nwora (Knee) is probable; Brook Lopez (Back) is out
Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 p.m. ET)
Kings Projected Lineup
PG – De’Aaron Fox
SG – Tyrese Haliburton
SF – Robert Woodard
PF – Richaun Holmes
C – Chimezie Metu
Injury news: Maurice Harkless (Knee) is questionable; Harrison Barnes (Foot) and Marvin Bagley (Illness) are out
Clippers Projected Lineup
PG – Reggie Jackson
SG – Eric Bledsoe
SF – Terance Mann
PF – Marcus Morris
C – Ivica Zubac
Injury news: Paul George (Rest) and Nicolas Batum (Illness) are out
