Recent Play Details

4% Minnesota (8:10 ET): I’ve been really impressed with this Timberwolves squad in the early part of the season as they are #1 in defensive efficiency (per Hollinger) and lead the Western Conference (by percentage points over OKC). Coming into tonight, the T’wolves have won 8 of 9, the only loss coming in the second night of a back to back at Phoenix last Wednesday. They subsequently bounced back from that defeat, winning 121-120 at New Orleans, though it took a late surge and they didn’t cover the 7.5-point spread. Still, you’re talking about a team with a top four point differential in the league right now. 

The Knicks aren’t far behind in point differential (Top 5) as they’ve won six of seven and covered seven of their last eight. But some of these teams they’ve been beating are at/near the bottom of the league standings: Charlotte (twice), San Antonio and Washington. The one step up in class came against Boston and the Knicks lost that game (on the road) 114-98 as 9.5-point dogs. Not saying the T’wolves are as good as the Celtics, but they did beat Boston here at home two weeks ago and held them to 109 points in a game that went to OT. You may recall that I was on the T’wolves (plus the points) in that game. 

I know this is Minnesota’s first game back home following a 5-game road trip. But they had Sunday off. The last two games were uncharacteristically poor efforts at the defensive end, but the T’wolves overcame that in New Orleans. I expect better defense tonight at home where they are allowing 96.8 points per game thus far and are a perfect 5-0 SU/ATS. For the Knicks, this is the finale of a 5-game road trip and their third game in four nights. That game in Boston was the only previous time all season that NY entered in on a 3-game win streak. I really like Anthony Edwards for Minnesota and think he’ll lead his team to the win and cover tonight. 4% Minnesota (Play to -4)