Minnesota Timberwolves vs Brooklyn Nets Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 24/02/2024, 06:42  by Joseph King | Modified on 24/02/2024 at 07:20 in NBA Predictions

The Western Conference leading Minnesota Timberwolves will play host to the struggling 12th-place Brooklyn Nets on Friday. Minnesota saw their four-game winning streak come to an end upon returning from the All-Star break with a 112-107 home defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks. The result means that the Twolves have a record of 39-17, tying them with second-place OKC and putting them 1.5 games ahead of the Clippers and Nuggets. They have a golden opportunity to get back to winning ways here as Minnesota is 19-6 at the Target Center on the season. The Timberwolves have been powered by their lockdown defense which ranks first in adjusted defensive rating (109.1) and is allowing a league low 106.8 points per game. They’ll have to deal with playing the second leg of a back-to-back here, although being at home for both games removes the travel fatigue from the equation.

The Nets are on a bad run of form at the moment. They were humiliated by the Celtics just prior to the All-Star break in a 50-point loss and suffered another heavy defeat upon their return to play. A 121-93 away loss to the Raptors means that Brooklyn has now lost their last three games in a row as well as six defeats in their last seven. The most worrying part has been the complete stagnation of the team’s offense as they have put up a combined 179 points in their last two appearances (89.5 average). Things won’t get any easier for them here as they now have to attempt to overcome their shooting slump against the league’s top-rated defense. Brooklyn’s record of 21-34 has them seeded 11th in the Eastern Conference. They currently trail the 10th-place Hawks by 2.5 games for the final play-in tournament spot.