Portland (48-28) at Minnesota (34-42)
When: Monday, April 1st, 2019
Where: Target Center,
Minneapolis, MN
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: FS North,
NBCS Northwest
Opening Odds: Portland -3/223
The Minnesota Timberwolves are out of the playoff race, but are trying to play spoiler in the last few weeks and will host the Portland Trail Blazers Monday night at the Target Center. Minnesota dealt Golden State a blow with a 131-130 overtime victory on Friday to drop the Warriors into a tie with Denver for the No. 1 seed, then almost beat East No. 3 Philadelphia the next night, but ran out of gas at the end. The Timberwolves are trying to even-up their four-game homestand after dropping the first one to the L.A. Clippers and will play four of their final six games in Minneapolis. The Blazers will try and not take the T’Wolves too lightly tonight, as they are in a battle for the No. 3 seed in the West with the Houston Rockets. Portland trails Houston by a half-game despite being on a nice roll lately. The Blazers six-game winning streak was snapped Saturday night with a 99-90 setback at the Detroit Pistons. The 90 points was their lowest point total since before Christmas, as they shot just 37.3 percent from the floor. Portland will have five more games to close the season after Monday and will get the Nuggets twice in a three-day span. The home team has won the last 11 meetings including all three this season.
The Blazers are still playing well despite two major injuries to the starting five, losing for just the first time since losing center Jusuf Nurkic to a season-ending broken leg. Second-leading scorer CJ McCollum (21.3 points) is still recovering from a knee injury suffered at San Antonio on March 16 and did not fly with the team, and is questionable to return at all over the final six regular season games. Portland outrebound Detroit 68-52 on Saturday thanks to Enes Kanter’s 15 boards to go along with 20 points in 34 minutes for his first double-double since taking over Nurkic’s starting spot. Small forward Maurice Harkless also recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds – his second of the season.
All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns’ string of nine straight double-doubles came to an end Saturday, but still managed 21 points and seven rebounds in the setback to Philadelphia. Andrew Wiggins led five players in double-figures with 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting Saturday and added six rebounds, five assists and two blocks. The other three double-digit scorers came from the bench with Gorgui Dieng (13), Cameron Reynolds (10), and Anthony Tolliver (10) all contributing. Minnesota will next play at Dallas on Wednesday.
It’s really hard to take Portland with two of their main guys out and it showed on Saturday in Detroit. The T’Wolves have been playing the good teams tough lately and really have nothing to lose. Look for Minnesota to win this game outright.
Pick: Timberwolves +3.5
Trail Blazers are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Trail Blazers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Trail Blazers are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 road games.
Trail Blazers are 20-7 ATS in their last 27 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Trail Blazers are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games playing on 1 days rest.
Trail Blazers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Trail Blazers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight up loss.
Trail Blazers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
Timberwolves are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 Monday games.
Timberwolves are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games following a ATS loss.
Timberwolves are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss.
Timberwolves are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Timberwolves are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
Timberwolves are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Timberwolves are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Northwest.
Timberwolves are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Timberwolves are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Timberwolves are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 4-0 in Trail Blazers last 4 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Under is 5-0-1 in Trail Blazers last 6 road games.
Under is 4-0 in Trail Blazers last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 4-1 in Trail Blazers last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 14-5 in Trail Blazers last 19 vs. NBA Northwest.
Over is 8-3-1 in Trail Blazers last 12 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 5-2 in Trail Blazers last 7 Monday games.
Under is 4-0 in Timberwolves last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
Under is 4-0 in Timberwolves last 4 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 7-1 in Timberwolves last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-1 in Timberwolves last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 6-2 in Timberwolves last 8 overall.
Under is 6-2 in Timberwolves last 8 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 9-4 in Timberwolves last 13 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
Favorite is 6-0 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Home team is 6-0 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Over is 11-3 in the last 14 meetings in Minnesota.
Trail Blazers are 38-13-1 ATS in the last 52 meetings.
Trail Blazers are 20-7 ATS in the last 27 meetings in Minnesota.
