Grizzlies vs. Timberwolves NBA expert prediction and odds for Thursday, Jan. 18

The Minnesota Timberwolves will play their fourth back-to-back for the season on Thursday when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies on TNT. 

Luckily for Minnesota, the Grizzlies are down three key starters Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, and Desmond Bane. 

After failing to cover as major favorites against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night, Minnesota is right back in the same spot tonight. 

Can it take down this Grizzlies team at home?

Here are the latest odds and my best bet for this game: 

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Grizzlies injury report

Timberwolves injury report

Memphis Grizzlies

Jaren Jackson Jr.: With Bane, Morant and Smart out, a lot rests on the shoulders of Jaren Jackson Jr. This is a tough matchup against Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, and JJJ has shot just 10-for-40 over his last two games.  

Minnesota Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards: After scoring just nine points in a blowout win over Portland, Edwards has dropped 33 and 27 points in his last two games, leading Minnesota to wins over the Los Angeles Clippers and Detroit Pistons. This is a favorable matchup against a Memphis team that is down its best guard defender in Smart. 

Memphis upset the Golden State Warriors in Memphis its last time out, but I don’t see that happening in this game. 

The Grizzlies role players have stepped up in a big way with Jaren Jackson Jr. (10-for-40 last two games) struggling with his shot, but that’s going to be tough to lean on against the league’s No. 1 defense. 

Minnesota is 7-6-2 against the spread as a home favorite, averaging a margin of victory of over 10 points per game in those matchup. The Grizzlies are 9-8 ATS as road dogs, but it’s hard to project that onto the roster when Morant, Smart and Bane out.

The team lacks proven scoring options after Jackson, and I think that comes back to bite the Grizz against an elite Minnesota defense. 

I’ll take the Wolves to cover at home. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.