Minnesota took game one of this Western Conference first-round series and currently holds a 1-0 lead over the Suns. Tuesday’s game two is being played at the Target Center in Minneapolis and is set to tip-off at 7:30 PM ET. TNT is carrying the game on TV, and the Timberwolves are favored by 3.5 points. The over/under line is sitting at 211.5 points, and the money line odds are -158 for Minnesota and +132 for Phoenix.

PHOENIX SUNS VS MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES BETTING PICK

The Pick: Phoenix Suns +3.5

This game will be played at Target Center at 7:30 ET on Tuesday, April 23rd.

WHY BET THE PHOENIX SUNS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 114-113 in favor of the Suns.
  • Our projections have Kevin Durant finishing with Kevin Durant points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
  • From the field, we have the Suns finishing with a field goal percentage of 48.6% and knocking down 16 threes.

The Timberwolves picked up a 25-point win over the Suns in the most recent game of this series, winning by a score of 120-95. Going into the game, the Timberwolves were favored by 2.5 points and easily covered the spread. The over/under line for the game was 213.5 points, and the 215 combined points meant the game went over the line by 1.5 points.

Minnesota took control of the game in the 2nd quarter, outscoring the Suns 34-23. Anthony Edwards led all scorers with 33 points, and he also had nine rebounds and six assists. Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points for the Timberwolves. On the other side, Kevin Durant had 31 points for the Suns, and the team hit just nine threes on 32.1% shooting from beyond the arc.

Can Phoenix Secure a Road Victory?

In terms of their over/under record, Phoenix has gone over the O/U line in their last two games. This season, their games have averaged a combined 229.3 points per game, compared to today’s line of 211.5. In all of their games, the average O/U line has been 230.7.

Looking at their ATS record, the Suns are 35-47 overall and 19-23 on the road. They have failed to cover the spread in their last two road games. As the underdog, their ATS record is 10-12 this season.

Phoenix’s last game was also against the Timberwolves, and they lost by a score of 120-95. In that game, they were 2.5-point underdogs. The Suns are currently 6th in the Western Conference with a record of 49-33.

For the season, the Suns are 9-13 as the underdog and have a scoring differential of -3.1 points per game. As the underdog, their ATS record is 10-12. On the road, they are 24-18 straight-up and 19-23 vs. the spread.

Phoenix comes into the game as the NBA’s 10th-ranked scoring offense, averaging 116.2 points per contest. For the season, they have hit 49% of their shots from the field, which is the 5th best mark in the league. The Suns’ pace of play is 15th in the league. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are both averaging 27.1 points per game this season.

Looking at Durant’s last five games, he has hit 48.9% of his shots from the field and is averaging 23.8 points per game in that stretch. Over the last five games for Bradley Beal, he has hit 59.5% of his shots and 61.9% of his threes, averaging 23.2 points per game. Grayson Allen is questionable for the game and is averaging 13.5 points per game.

So far this season, the Phoenix Suns defense has been middle of the pack, ranking 15th in the NBA at 113.3 points per game allowed. On the road, the Suns have been slightly worse, giving up 113.7 points per contest, which is 13th in the league.

When it comes to rebounds, Phoenix is 13th in the NBA at 44.1 per game. They have been especially good at defensive rebounding, ranking 8th in the league.

One area where the Suns have been strong defensively is in blocking shots, as they are 6th in the NBA at 6 rejections per contest.

Can Minnesota Pull Out the Win as Home Favorites?

In Minnesota’s win over the Suns, the teams combined for 215 points, which was 1.5 points higher than the O/U line of 213.5. This continues a streak of 2 straight games going over the O/U line for the Timberwolves.

On average, Minnesota’s games have seen 219.4 points scored this season, with an average O/U line of 221. Today’s line is set at 211.5, which is lower than 78 of their previous games.

Minnesota is 43-40 on the over/under for the season, and their games have gone over the O/U line in two straight games.

For the season, Minnesota is 41-41 against the spread, going 19-23 ATS at home and 22-18 ATS on the road. As the favorite, they are 30-33 ATS and 11-8 ATS as the underdog.

The Timberwolves are 3rd in the Western Conference with a record of 56-26. In the West, they are 37-15 against other teams and 19-11 against the East.

Minnesota won their last game against the Suns by a score of 120-95. In that game, they were favored by 2.5 points. Overall, the Timberwolves are favored by 3.5 points in today’s game.

Minnesota comes into the game as the 18th-ranked scoring offense, averaging 113 points per game. Their production has been a little worse at home, where they are 22nd in the league, with 112.2 points per contest. The Timberwolves have been an efficient shooting team this season, as they are 9th in field goal percentage and 8th in true shooting percentage.

Anthony Edwards is averaging 27.2 points per game over his last five games on a field goal percentage of 52.2%. Across these games, he also averaged 5 assists. For the season, he is averaging 25.9 points and 5.1 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds for the season.

When it comes to defense, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been the best in the NBA this season, allowing just 106.4 points per game. That number is even better at home, where they are giving up just 103.5 points per game.

Overall, opponents have made just 45.1% of their field goal attempts against Minnesota, which is also the best mark in the league. Their three-point defense has been stout as well, ranking 3rd in three-point percentage allowed.

Over their last five games, the Timberwolves’ defense has slipped a bit, allowing 112.6 points per game. During that stretch, opponents have made 41.6% of their three-point attempts.