Timberwolves vs Thunder Prediction: Picks, Live Odds & Moneyline – NBA Playoffs Game 1

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The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder take the court to tip off the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. The Timberwolves are 5.5-point favorites for the game, which airs on ESPN at 9:30 PM ET. The point total for this contest is 228.5.

How to bet Timberwolves vs. Thunder

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Odds

Point Spread

The spread for this matchup is set at 5.5 points, with oddsmakers listing the Timberwolves as the favorites.

Moneyline

As for the moneyline, the Timberwolves have -218 odds to pick up the win, while the Thunder are listed at +180 to claim victory.

Over/Under

Finally, the total for the game is set at 228.5 points.

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Timberwolves vs. Thunder Game Time and How to Watch

  • Game Day: Friday, April 14, 2023
  • Game Time: 9:30 PM ET
  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Arena: Target Center

Timberwolves vs. Thunder Betting Trends

Against the spread, the Timberwolves are 39-41-2 this season. Minnesota has won 21, or 53.8%, of the 39 contests in which it was the favorite this year. Timberwolves games this year have gone over the point total 45.1% of the time (37 out of 82 games with a set point total).

Against the spread, the Thunder are 47-34-1 this season. Oklahoma City has won 22 of the 52 games it was listed as the moneyline underdog this season (42.3%). The Thunder have eclipsed the over/under 52.4% of the time this season (43 of 82 games with a set point total).

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Potential Starting Lineups and Key Players

Timberwolves

Timberwolves Leaders
Name GP PTS REB ASST STL BLK 3PM
Anthony Edwards 79 24.6 5.8 4.4 1.6 0.7 2.7
Karl-Anthony Towns 29 20.8 8.1 4.8 0.7 0.6 2.1
Rudy Gobert 70 13.4 11.6 1.2 0.8 1.4 0
Mike Conley 67 11.9 2.7 6.7 1.1 0.2 2
Jaylen Nowell 65 10.8 2.6 2 0.6 0.1 1

Thunder

Thunder Leaders
Name GP PTS REB ASST STL BLK 3PM
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 68 31.4 4.8 5.5 1.6 1 0.9
Josh Giddey 76 16.6 7.9 6.2 0.8 0.4 1
Jalen Williams 75 14.1 4.5 3.3 1.4 0.5 1
Luguentz Dort 74 13.7 4.6 2.1 1 0.3 1.8
Isaiah Joe 71 9.7 2.5 1.2 0.7 0.1 2.3
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Timberwolves: Naz Reid: Out (Wrist), Rudy Gobert: Questionable (Back), Karl-Anthony Towns: Questionable (Calf), Jaden McDaniels: Out (Hand), Jaylen Nowell: Probable (Knee)

Thunder: Kenrich Williams: Out (Wrist), Aleksej Pokusevski: Out (Knee)

What you need to know about the Minnesota Timberwolves

So far this year, Minnesota is averaging 115.8 points per game (12th-ranked in NBA) and allowing 115.8 points per contest (18th-ranked). Offensively the Timberwolves have fared better when playing at home this year, posting 115.9 points per game, compared to 115.6 per game when playing on the road. In their last 10 games, the Timberwolves have been racking up 117 points per game, an average that’s slightly higher than the 115.8 they’ve scored over the course of the 2022-23 season.

Minnesota is sinking 12.2 threes per game (13th-ranked in NBA) this year, while sporting a 36.5% three-point percentage (13th-ranked). The Timberwolves are attempting 54.1 two-pointers per game this year, which account for 61.9% of the shots they’ve attempted (and 71.6% of the team’s baskets). Meanwhile, they are attempting 33.3 threes per contest, which are 38.1% of their shots (and 28.4% of the team’s buckets).

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What you need to know about the Oklahoma City Thunder

In 2022-23, Oklahoma City is fifth-best in the NBA on offense (117.5 points scored per game) and ranked 19th defensively (116.4 points allowed). The Thunder average 120.8 points per game at home, and 114.1 away. While the Thunder are scoring 117.5 points per game in 2022-23, they have fallen short of that in their past 10 games, tallying 116.4 points per contest.

With 12.1 made 3-pointers per game and shooting 35.6% from beyond the arc, Oklahoma City is 15th and 17th in the league, respectively, in those categories. The Thunder take 36.9% percent of their shots from beyond the arc, and 28.2% of their made shots are from there. Inside the 3-point line, they attempt 63.1% of their shots, with 71.8% of their makes coming from there.

Our prediction to win this matchup is the Timberwolves, and we project that Thunder will cover the spread (Timberwolves -5.5). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going over the posted total of 228.5 points.

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You can bet on Timberwolves vs. Thunder at every legal online sportsbook. For more NBA odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals as well as NBA prop odds, check out the latest NBA lines as well as our guide to the best NBA betting sites.

And if you wanted to check out how much you could win on a $10 bet if you parlayed today’s Timberwolves vs. Thunder picks, don’t forget to check out our free parlay calculator.

Not sure what a parlay is? Or even how to bet on basketball? Check out our complete guide to sports betting.

WRITTEN BY

Dan Weiner

Hailing from Atlanta and attending college at the University of Texas, Dan is passionate about sports, particularly college football and soccer. He's a diehard Atlanta pro sports and Texas Longhorns fan. He likes every sport and will watch anything and everything the weirder the better. He joined Betsperts after an 11 year career in television production at ESPN.

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