Timberwolves vs Raptors Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

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25 October 2023

Timberwolves vs Raptors Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

The Toronto Raptors kick off their new regime against the Minnesota Timberwolves. New head coach Darko Rajakovic wants to see some changes in the Raps' play, and our NBA picks think those changes will pay off for Gary Trent Jr.

A new era of Toronto Raptors basketball tips off tonight when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves in their season opener.

Fred VanVleet signed with the Houston Rockets in the offseason while the front office moved on from Nick Nurse, replacing him with Darko Rajakovic. The first-year head coach will be tasked with helping Scottie Barnes take the next step in his development.

For tonight, the Raps will be slight home underdogs as they try to slow down Anthony Edwards and the T-wolves. Will the team’s new system pay off immediately, or will this group have some growing pains?

I break down the NBA odds and bring you the best bet in my NBA picks for the Timberwolves vs. the Raptors.

Timberwolves vs Raptors odds

Timberwolves vs Raptors predictions

A big welcome to Darko Rajakovic, who was an assistant with the Grizzlies for the last four seasons. The Toronto Raptors are hoping that not only will Rajakovic breathe some new life into a team that looked despondent at times last season.

One of the changes Rajakovic wants to implement is doing away with his top players averaging nearly 40 minutes per game, thus running this team 10 men deep. One of the effects of that is having Gary Trent Jr. coming off the bench.

But just because Trent isn’t in the starting lineup, doesn’t mean he won’t be a part of the game plan. The Raptors’ sharpshooter averaged just over 21 minutes per game in the preseason, and he took advantage of those minutes, putting up 6.3 threes per game.

Trent — who is a career 38.4% three-point shooter — should let it fly tonight in a good matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

While Minnesota poses a problem in the paint with Rudy Gobert, the team’s perimeter defense was a little lacking last season as the Wolves ranked 24th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage.

On top of that, while Minnesota’s starting lineup is solid, its second unit is a little suspect and Trent should be able to take advantage of that matchup in this game.

Additionally, don’t be surprised if Trent’s minutes go up even more in the regular season if he can get back to being the defender he was two seasons ago. Rajakovic has said he wants to put the emphasis on his team to get deflections but not necessarily sell out for steals... playing well into Trent’s game.

With additional minutes and a new offensive system that prioritizes quick ball movement, Trent could see more open looks this season, starting tonight against Minnesota.

Trent’s Over/Under made 3-pointers prop is set at a low 1.5 but juiced heavily to the Over. So, instead, let’s take his alternate made threes at 3+ which you can get for nice plus money.

My best bet: Gary Trent Jr. 3+ made threes (+175 at PointsBet)

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Timberwolves vs Raptors same-game parlay

Trent Jr. 3+ made threes

Edwards Under 25.5 points

Barnes Over 0.5 blocks

Let’s take a look at Timberwolves young star Anthony Edwards. There isn’t much to go off in these early games, particularly when a team has a new coach like the Raptors, but Rajakovic has come out and said already that Barnes is going to be the Defensive Player of the Year.

Scottie looked like a menace to opposing teams in his rookie campaign but seemed to take a bit of a step back on the defensive end of the floor last season. If he can get back to how he was two seasons ago, he can hold Edwards — who averaged 21.8 points per game last season — below his point total of 25.5.

Speaking of Barnes’ defensive capabilities, let’s close this SGP out with him to record a block tonight. He looks rejuvenated and in better shape entering this season and recorded 1.8 blocks per game in the preseason.

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Timberwolves vs Raptors and Over/Under analysis

The Raptors opened this season-opening matchup with the Timberwolves as slight 1-point home underdogs. However, it’s the Raps who have seen the early action, bumping Toronto 1-point faves as of writing.

The Raptors were a much better team at home last year, going 27-14 straight up. And in the preseason the team looked rejuvenated in Rajakovic’s new system. Meanwhile, Minnesota is trying to build off a 42-40 season. Edwards is obviously a stud, but Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns are still a weird fit to me.

I think the Raps will be the more motivated bunch at home with a new coach. I also believe they have more depth which helps early in the season when teams won’t push their starters. So, I would have a very slight lean toward Toronto.

The total hit the board at 223.5 and has been bet down to 222 as of Wednesday afternoon. I get it. Both teams have the potential to be solid defensive units this season, but it’s so hard to tell what you’ll get out of the Raptors in this new system. So, at least for a few games, I’ll be staying away from their totals.