Despite recent wins, the Brooklyn Nets face a massive point spread against the Minnesota Timberwolves. We analyze key player matchups and betting trends for this intriguing matchup.
Apparently taking care of business in the City of Brotherly Love against a full squad of Philadelphia 76ers means little to oddsmakers when it comes to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Nets (9-19) are currently +13.5 point road underdogs (-111) for their Saturday night visit to the Target Center to play the Timberwolves (20-10) in an 8:00 p.m. (ET) tipoff in Minnesota.
Brooklyn, 3-1 in its last four games and coming off a 114-106 victory over the Sixers on Tuesday night, is +361 on the money line, while Minnesota, 8-2 in their last 10 games, including 3-2 in their last five, is -460 to cash the money.
The Timberwolves (-13.5, -111), 12-19 against the spread this season, including 7-10 when playing at home, are 12-5 at the Target Center.
The over/under total is 227.5 (o, -111, u -112), as per Action Network.
Brooklyn, 5-8 on the road, is 6-15 in games decided by 10 points or more.
The Timberwolves are 10-11 against the spread and 17-4 overall when scoring more than 113.9 points.
The Nets offense is led by Michael Porter Jr. (25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
Porter Jr. is shooting 49.1% overall, including 40.1 % from 3-point range. His 3.7 made 3-pointers per game are third in the league.
Brooklyn big-man Nic Claxton, usually around the rim and very active on defense, is averaging 13.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
Nets rookie Noah Clowney (13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game) has also been impressive in recent weeks.
Brooklyn, 6-4 in their last 10 games, is averaging 110.0 per game and shooting 46.1% during that stretch.
Timberwolves star forward Anthony Edwards is averaging 29.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
Edwards, one of five Minnesota players in double-figure scoring averages per game, is shooting 49.4 percent from the floor and averages 3.4 triples a contest, which is good for eighth in the NBA.
Minnesota forward Julius Randle, averaging 22.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game, gets 1.1 steals and 0.2 blocks a contest on the other end.
This is the second meeting between both teams this season. The Wolves defeated the Nets, 125-109 in early-November behind 25 points from Donte Divincenzo.
Cam Thomas, who is questionable to return from a hamstring injury, scored 25 points for the Nets.
For the Nets, Haywood Highsmith (knee) is out, while Drake Powell (ankle) is listed as day-to-day.
Minnesota forward Terrence Shannon Jr. (foot) is day-to-day.
Brooklyn, on the backend of a short road trip, returns to the Barclays Center on Monday night - to host the Golden State Warriors.
But despite their recent success, especially in December, the Nets, 0-2 in their last two games when on rest of four days or more, seem to struggle when away from real basketball action for an extended period of time.