8* Monday NBA MIN/DAL

Minnesota vs. Dallas, 01/14/2013 20:30 EDT, Score: 98 - 113

Point Spread: +7/-105 Minnesota

Sportsbook: 5Dimes

Result: Loss

Timberwolves +7

The Dallas Mavericks host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. Minnesota has won each of the two previous meetings between these teams this season, 90-82 on November 12th, and 114-106 on December 15th.

Dallas has the privilege of hosting this game, but for our purposes, they’re just 1-4 ATS in their last five home games, while the road side is 23-6 ATS in the last 29 meetings between these teams. In their two games against Minnesota this season, Dallas has shot only 41 percent from the field.

Minnesota holds a pair of eight-point wins over Dallas this season, yet find themselves giving away points in this contest. The absence of Kevin Love is scaring the public away from Minnesota, but Nikola Pekovic has taken on a larger role in the offense and under the boards in his place and is averaging better than a double-double, while former first-round pick Derrick Williams has seen an increase in minutes, posting his first double-double of the season on Wednesday.

The Mavericks have lost 10 of 13 games overall. Of those three wins, one was against Washington, and another was against a Sacramento team that the Mavs have beaten 21 of the last 24 times. The most recent win came on a night on which the Grizzlies were playing their fifth game in seven nights and shot 38 percent from the field and 61 percent from the charity stripe.

The Timberwolves are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games against the Mavericks, and are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 trips to American Airlines Arena. Take Minnesota.

8* Play on Minnesota Timberwolves +7