9.30pm ET
Portland Trailblazers @ Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves go for their fourteenth win in seventeen games tonight when they host the slumping Portland Trailblazers.
Minnesota are 22-11 SU and 18-15 ATS overall this season and enter tonight's match-up on a 14-4 SU and 12-6 ATS tear. They last played Tuesday and completely dominated the shorthanded LA Lakers, leading by 15 at the first break before cruising to a 106-90 win. The Timberwolves three-pronged attack of Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell is proving very difficult for most teams to match up with. Minnesota have won six straight at home by an average of 13.8 points and included among their victims in this stretch are the Mavericks, Pacers and Lakers.
Meantime Portland have dropped three straight to be 15-17 SU overall. Even though it's still relatively early in the season the Blazers are showing all the signs of being their usual dysfunctional selves and if they continue their in-fighting must be in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
"I hate to say this, but maybe this is a bad mix of players," guard Damon Stoudamire said. "Right now, man, this is frustrating. This is the most frustrated I've been in the NBA." Stoudamire and forward Zach Randolph had two heated exchanges during the second half of Friday's 106-96 home loss to Denver.
And in their most recent game they suffered a meltdown at Seattle, blowing an 18 point fourth-quarter lead before being outscored 15-4 in overtime. Center Dale Davis called the Blazers' capitulation inexcusable. "I'm still trying to figure out how we lost. We had a nice, comfortable lead entering the fourth quarter and we just blew it. But that's been typical of this team." Davis told reporters he planned to talk with Head Coach Maurice Cheeks about his role with the team and is considering asking management for a trade. Portland have already traded Bonzi Wells this season but obviously the team chemistry problems run a lot deeper.
On the road this season the Blazers are a miserable 1-12 SU and 3-10 ATS. That can only be bad news against a dominant home team like the Timberwolves.
Following a division game this season Portland are just 2-4 ATS and the last three seasons are 20-36 ATS (36%).
The Timberwolves have played well against lower-echelon teams this season boasting an 11-2 SU and 8-5 ATS mark.
These teams clashed in Portland two weeks back and the Blazers posted a 101-92 win. So expect Minnesota to be fired up to atone tonight in front of a national TV audience and on a very light NBA card. The T'wolves are 10-5 ATS this season with revenge.
We'll lay the wood tonight and go with Minnesota to post another double-digit home victory.
Recommended Play: Minnesota Timberwolves -8 1/2
Portland Trailblazers @ Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves go for their fourteenth win in seventeen games tonight when they host the slumping Portland Trailblazers.
Minnesota are 22-11 SU and 18-15 ATS overall this season and enter tonight's match-up on a 14-4 SU and 12-6 ATS tear. They last played Tuesday and completely dominated the shorthanded LA Lakers, leading by 15 at the first break before cruising to a 106-90 win. The Timberwolves three-pronged attack of Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell is proving very difficult for most teams to match up with. Minnesota have won six straight at home by an average of 13.8 points and included among their victims in this stretch are the Mavericks, Pacers and Lakers.
Meantime Portland have dropped three straight to be 15-17 SU overall. Even though it's still relatively early in the season the Blazers are showing all the signs of being their usual dysfunctional selves and if they continue their in-fighting must be in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1982.
"I hate to say this, but maybe this is a bad mix of players," guard Damon Stoudamire said. "Right now, man, this is frustrating. This is the most frustrated I've been in the NBA." Stoudamire and forward Zach Randolph had two heated exchanges during the second half of Friday's 106-96 home loss to Denver.
And in their most recent game they suffered a meltdown at Seattle, blowing an 18 point fourth-quarter lead before being outscored 15-4 in overtime. Center Dale Davis called the Blazers' capitulation inexcusable. "I'm still trying to figure out how we lost. We had a nice, comfortable lead entering the fourth quarter and we just blew it. But that's been typical of this team." Davis told reporters he planned to talk with Head Coach Maurice Cheeks about his role with the team and is considering asking management for a trade. Portland have already traded Bonzi Wells this season but obviously the team chemistry problems run a lot deeper.
On the road this season the Blazers are a miserable 1-12 SU and 3-10 ATS. That can only be bad news against a dominant home team like the Timberwolves.
Following a division game this season Portland are just 2-4 ATS and the last three seasons are 20-36 ATS (36%).
The Timberwolves have played well against lower-echelon teams this season boasting an 11-2 SU and 8-5 ATS mark.
These teams clashed in Portland two weeks back and the Blazers posted a 101-92 win. So expect Minnesota to be fired up to atone tonight in front of a national TV audience and on a very light NBA card. The T'wolves are 10-5 ATS this season with revenge.
We'll lay the wood tonight and go with Minnesota to post another double-digit home victory.
Recommended Play: Minnesota Timberwolves -8 1/2