Minnesota Timberwolves vs Utah Jazz Prediction and Betting Odds | NBA Oct 21
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Utah Jazz Betting Preview
WagerTalk NBA handicapper Andy Lang offers his analysis of tonight’s Minnesota Timberwolves vs Utah Jazz clash in the Western Conference. Each team started the season right on Wednesday night winning their first game of the NBA season.
| Friday, October 21 | NBA Betting Notes, Courtesy of Caesars |
|---|---|
| Point Spread: | Minnesota Timberwolves -8 vs Utah Jazz |
| Total: | 233 Points |
| Arena: | Target Center in Minneapolis, MN |
| Game Time: | 8:10pm ET / 5:10pm PT |
| TV: | Bally Sports North |
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Utah Jazz Analysis
The Utah Jazz travel to Target Stadium to face old friend Rudy Gobert and his new team the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. The Timberwolves held on for a 115-108 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.
While the Jazz steamrolled the Denver Nuggets 123-102 at home. Utah took three of four head-to-head meetings against Minnesota last season.
This is the first meeting between these clubs this season, but let’s face it these are now completely different teams. Tip-off is slated for 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PST.
Jazz Find Their Groove As Underdogs
The Utah Jazz beat the Denver Nuggets 123-102 despite entering the contest as 8 point underdogs. The Jazz are in an obvious rebuild mode but still managed to compete, shooting 50.6% from the field and 42.1% from beyond the arc.
Newly acquired players led the way as Colin Sexton scored 20 points with Lauri Markkanen scoring 17. Jared Vanderbilt patrolled the paint with 12 rebounds, including 5 on the offensive glass. The bench did a tremendous job contributing with 68 total points including 16 from veteran Rudy Gay and 15 from Malik Beasley.
The Jazz surprisingly out-rebounded the Nuggets 43-35 on the night. The Utah defense was brilliant on the perimeter, holding the Nuggs to only 22% from long distance.
This team exceeded expectations on opening night as most projected a potential tank for Wembanyama situation. However it is a long season and it’s highly unlikely they can sustain this style of play.
Rudy Gives Wolves Insiders Edge
The Minnesota Timberwolves look to improve to 2-0 at home after winning 115-108 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday evening. Newly acquired big man Rudy Gobert didn’t waste any time, scoring 23 points and snagging 16 rebounds.
D’Angelo Russell chipped in with 20 points while Jaden McDaniels added 19. The Twolves won the game despite the poor performances by their other superstars in Karl Anthony-Towns and Anthony Edwards. Edwards only scored 11 points with Towns adding only 12 on a combined 6 for 27 from the field.
Not surprisingly the Wolves shot poorly as team, going only 42% from the field and 24% from three-point land. Minnesota needed an improvement on the defensive end as they finished last season ranked 24th in scoring defense.
On opening the night they clamped down on OKC, holding them to only 38% from the field and 31% from three-point range. This team still needs time to gel, buts its encouraging they won despite the unusually poor performances from Edwards and KAT.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Utah Jazz Prediction
The Minnesota Timberwolves enter this contest as tremendous 8.5 point favorites with a total of 229. This is what could be considered a revenge game of sorts as Rudy Gobert and Jared Vanderbilt were traded for one another.
I can definitely see Gobert playing all out and immediately looked towards his rebounding total after grabbing 16 on Wednesday. However it’s set high at 14.5 with a ton of juice at -140. This game might offer a great opportunity at a longshot first basket prop with some sweet plus money odds. KAT won the opening tip 47% last season while Gobert won at a 64% clip.
One of the two go up against Kelly Olynyk jumped an opening tip once in the past two seasons. Towns took the tip in the opener & won but I could see them letting Rudy take this one. The Twolves scored first 55% of the time last season while the Jazz only scored 49% of the time.
Considered Utah lost four of their five starters and Gobert is on now on Minnesota these numbers will surely drop. Gobert scored the first basket 14% of the time last season with Utah.
While that doesn’t sound like an impressive figure at first glance, it’s worth a small play at +650 odds. Especially considering the emotional factor with Gobert playing his former team and the fact that his size gives him high percentage opportunities.
Prediction: Rudy Gobert First Basket +650
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NBA Tip-Off Show | October 21
The LA Clippers have entered the 2022-23 season as the NBA Championship favorites at most sports books. Is their price tag justified? Join Joe Raineri and a rotating panel of professional handicappers for the NBA Tip-Off Show as we preview tonight’s NBA card from a betting perspective. Stay up-to-date on the latest NBA news, stats, analysis, and predictions with our panel of pro sports bettors as they offer some of their favorite NBA best bets, player props and DFS recommendations on tonight’s slate.
NBA Live Odds Screen
WagerTalk’s Live Odds Screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the NBA point spreads, totals and betting percentages for all of this week’s NBA action, including this Minnesota Timberwolves vs Utah Jazz showdown, from your desktop or phone.
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Meet the Author
Andy Lang has lived in Indianapolis his whole life, and like most people from the Hoosier State, he became fascinated with motor sports. That interest in motor sports turned into a desire to make money off the sport through fantasy contests and sports betting. Like most, he took his lumps when he first got started, but now he is one of the most respected NASCAR bettors in the industry. Andy has expanded that sports betting experience to become profitable in a number of other sports, transforming this interest from a side hobby to a major source of income.
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