The Minnesota Timberwolves will face the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday at Target Center in Minneapolis. This will be the second meeting between the two teams this season after a blowout 129-105 win for the Wolves on February 9. The Bucks are currently in third place in the Eastern Conference after a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Meanwhile, the Wolves are in top place in the Western Conference with a 39-16 record. They are coming off a win against the Portland Trail Blazers. Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, six rebounds and seven assists in that game.
Preview
The Bucks have had a tough time under the new coach, Doc Rivers, losing seven of their 10 games. Milwaukee has maintained its second-ranked offensive attack at 122.0 points per game, led by their two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and star player Damian Lillard. With both players garnering most of the attention on defense, the team creates quality looks for role players. They are fifth in the league in field goal percentage, with 49.4% shooting.
Minnesota entered the All-Star break on a winning note, defeating Portland in back-to-back games to record their fourth consecutive win. Their performance has been balanced throughout the season and they rank 18th in scoring with an average of 114 points per game. The Timberwolves lead the league in defense, giving up just 106.7 points per game, with Rudy Gobert leading the way.
Starting lineup
The Bucks are expected to start with Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley, Jae Crowder, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez. Meanwhile, the Wolves will likely start with Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rubert Gobert.
Betting tips & Prediction
Anthony Edwards is averaging 26.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists. His point prop is set at over/under 27.7 and is favorable to surpass or reach this mark. Antetokounmpo is averaging 30.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists. His point prop is set at over/under 27.5 and is favorable to surpass or reach this mark. Meanwhile, Damian Lillard is averaging 24.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.7 assists. His point prop is set at over/under 24.5 and is favorable to surpass or reach this mark.
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The Minnesota Timberwolves are favored to win the upcoming contest at home. They are favored by -4.5 point spreads and -180 on the moneyline. Notably, the Wolves have covered the spread in their last 10 fixtures, including their last 10 home games. Meanwhile, the Bucks are favored over 225.5 total points, while the Wolves are favored under 225.5.
