Minnesota Timberwolves vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction, Pick and Odds for Friday's NBA Play-In Game
The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves meet for the final Play-In game of the night tonight. Which team will advance? Matt McCuen answers.
Matt McCuen - April 14, 2023, 11:12 AM EDT
5 minMinnesota Timberwolves vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction, Pick and Odds for Friday's NBA Play-In Game
The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves will clash from Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a trip to the playoffs at stake.
The Thunder pulled off an impressive win over the New Orleans Pelicans to give themselves a chance at the playoffs, while the Wolves lost their first play-in game in overtime to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction
Minnesota led for the majority of the game, but they could not close out the Lakers, and now they will need to get a win tonight at home if they want to have a chance to make some noise in the postseason.
Oklahoma City, meanwhile, represents one of the best young rosters in basketball, headlined by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was outstanding in the win against the Pelicans. The fact that the Thunder are even in this game is a heck of an accomplishment in itself, and a win tonight would set the city on fire.
Win or lose, one thing we know is that this will be a playoff-caliber team for the next five to seven years if they can keep their guys together. Oklahoma City also has fifteen first-round picks over the next five years.
Minnesota, meanwhile, is in win-now mode. The Wolves made a trade for Rudy Gobert in the off-season that now looks like one of the worst trades in the last decade. Gobert will return tonight after his one-game suspension for throwing a punch at teammate Kyle Anderson.
I am going to back the Wolves at home tonight. Oklahoma City is a heavy public dog at the moment, and you all know what happens to public dogs! I think that recency bias is playing a major role here. Yes, the Wolves did not play a great game against LA, but this is a completely different game.
Minnesota should have a major advantage in the paint tonight with Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. The Thunder lack size, and I question if they will be able to get into the paint effectively tonight. Minnesota played their best basketball at home this year, and I think that continues tonight. Let’s stay hot and cash in!
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Oklahoma City Thunder Pick
Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves -5 (-115) Bet $100 to collect $186 FanDuel has the best odds; click here to bet
Timberwolves vs. Thunder Start Time and Where to Watch
- Date: Friday, April 14, 2023
- Game Time: 9:30 pm ET
- Where to Watch: ESPN
NBA Odds
