Timberwolves vs. Wizards prediction, odds, line, start time: 2023 NBA picks, Feb. 16 best bets from top model
Target Center hosts a tilt between the Washington Wizards and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday evening. Minnesota is 31-29 overall this season, including an impressive 20-12 mark at home. Washington is 27-30 overall after three wins in the last four games, and both teams are looking to head into the All-Star break with a victory. Washington's injury report is clean, while Minnesota lists Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) as out, with Rudy Gobert (groin) and Kyle Anderson (back) questionable.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Minnesota as a 3-point home favorite, and tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 235 in the latest Wizards vs. Wolves odds. Before you make any Wolves vs. Wizards picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model enters Week 18 of the 2022-23 NBA season on a stunning 55-29 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Wizards vs. Timberwolves and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Wizards vs. Wolves:
- Wizards vs. Timberwolves spread: Wolves -3
- Wizards vs. Timberwolves over/under: 235 points
- Wizards vs. Timberwolves money line: Minnesota -145, Washington +122
- WASH: The Wizards are 16-13-2 against the spread in road games
- MINN: The Wolves are 17-15 against the spread in home games
- Wizards vs. Timberwolves picks: See picks at SportsLine
Featured Game| Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Washington Wizards
Why the Wizards can cover
Washington is in the midst of a strong run as the Wizards are 9-4 in the last 13 games, scoring 1.22 points per possession over that sample. Washington has an impressive 62.1% true shooting mark with an offensive rebound rate above 30% in those 13 contests. The Wizards are out-scoring opponents by 6.1 points per 100 possessions during the improved sample, and Washington ranks in the top 10 of the NBA in field goal percentage for the full season. Minnesota is dead-last in the NBA in free throw prevention, with a bottom-five mark in defensive rebound rate to give Washington a chance to exploit the offensive glass.
On defense, Washington also projects to win the rebounding battle against a Minnesota team that has a 25.6% offensive rebound rate. The Wizards rank in the top eight of the NBA in opponent shooting, free throw prevention, assists allowed, and blocked shots.
Why the Wolves can cover
Minnesota is strong at home this season, posting a 20-12 record and holding opponents to only 1.11 points per possession. The Wolves also have a 59.9% true shooting mark at Target Center, and rank in the top five of the NBA in field goal percentage (49.3%) and 2-point percentage (57.9%) over the full-season sample. The Wolves are in the top ten in fast break points and points in the paint, and Washington ranks second-worst in the league in turnover creation, producing only 12.2 takeaways per game on defense.
Minnesota is also above the league average in defensive efficiency, yielding 1.13 points per possession, and ranks in the top five in turnover creation (15.9 per game). Minnesota is a top-six team in creating blocked shots (5.9 per game) and steals (8.1 per game), and opponents are shooting only 53.8% inside the 3-point arc against the Wolves.
How to make Wizards vs. Wolves picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the point total, with only seven players projected to score in double figures. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
