Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota Timberwolves Predictions and Odds Jan 28

Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Preview

WagerTalk NBA handicapper Andy Lang offers his Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota Timberwolves betting preview for Friday, January 28. At the time of posting, the Suns have opened as a 8.5-point home favorite over the road Timberwolves, with the total sitting at 230 points.

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Friday, January 28	NBA Betting Notes
Point Spread:	Phoenix Suns -8.5 vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Total:	230 Points
Game Time:	9:10pm ET / 6:10pm PT
Arena:	Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ
TV:	Bally Sports Arizona

Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota Timberwolves Analysis

The Minnesota Timberwolves complete a back-to-back on Friday against the Suns in Phoenix. The Suns are on fire having won nine of their last ten games after beating the Utah Jazz 105-97. The Twolves led by four at halftime but got shot out the Chase Center in the 2nd half and ultimately lost 124-115 to the Warriors. The Suns won first meeting 99-96 in Minnesota in mid-November.

Suns and Booker Hot For Different Reasons

The Suns come into this game with the NBA’s best record at 38-9 and will be searching for their 9th straight victory. Phoenix currently holds a 3.5 game lead over the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference standings. They have won recent games without key players including DeAndre Ayton, Jae Crowder and Cameron Payne.

They all missed their last game against the Jazz and Ayton has missed the last six games with an ankle injury. Phoenix ranks in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency and lead the league in field goal percentage. They also rank 3rd with 112.5 points scored per game. Devin Booker has been shooting lights out recently, scoring 28 points or more in six of his last seven games.

Yesterday the NBA announced the starters for this year’s All-Star game and Booker was snubbed for a second straight year. Booker has to be hot around the collar as Andrew Wiggins made the team over him, which is an obvious injustice.

Pack Missing Leader

You could make an argument for Karl Anthony-Towns or even Anthony Edwards as the Timberwolves leader, but D’Angelo Russell is the straw that stirs the drink. Last night the T’Wolves led by four at halftime against Golden State when Russell went down with a shin injury early in the 3rd quarter.

Minnesota looked lost offensively and ultimately lost the game by nine points. Considering the Wolves are on a back-to-back you would have to assume Russell will be a no-go tonight. Patrick Beverley missed last night’s game with an ankle injury and will most likely miss tonight’s game as well.

That leaves the Timberwolves extremely short at the guard position, which is huge disadvantage against the Phoenix Suns. This squad ranks 8th with an average of 111 points scored per game and 20th with just over 110 points allowed per game to their rivals.

Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction

The Phoenix Suns are laying 8.5 points with a 230 point over/under. Minnesota is at .500 against the spread on the season and 2-5 against the spread in their last seven games. Meanwhile the Suns are 26-21 against the spread on the season and 4-2 against the spread in their last six games. The Timberwolves has also failed to cover the number in their last five road games.

The Timberwolves are really going to struggle offensively without D’Angelo Russell and that’s a major issue against this dominant Suns squad. We are going with the Phoenix Suns laying 8 5 as our official play in this contest.

Official Play: Phoenix Suns -8.5

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Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota Timberwolves Preview from GoldSheet

Minnesota lost at Golden State last night, getting blitzed in the 3rd quarter, when the Warriors turned a four point Timberwolves lead into double-digit Warrior bulge and held on for a 124-115 win-and-cover against Minnesota. The Timberwolf PG D’Angelo Russell took a ding on his shin left the game and didn’t return. Karl-Anthony Towns also had a ding, banging his wrist, but he played through it.

Minnesota is 3-3 vs. the points this season playing when unrested, 3-9 vs. the points the last two years playing the 2nd night of back-to-back games on the road. Phoenix G Devin Booker is fresh off a monster game (43 pts. on 16 of 28 shooting with 12 rebounds and 4 assists in 39 minutes against the Jazz Wednesday) and has been scoring 33 ppg over his last five.

Phoenix is in control of this series, going 5-1 straight up (4-2 vs. the number), and Suns haven’t missed C Deandre Ayton much (out last 5 games with an ankle injury) with Bismack Biyombo and JaVale McGee combining for 23 ppg and 18 rpg while shooting well over 60%. McGee has a bit of a sore knee and is iffy, but Biyombo has been the real deal (15 ppg, 10 rpg, 68% in 29 mpg last five games despite just one start).

The Suns have dropped six of their last eight laying points at the Footprint Center, and if Russell is good to go, maybe Patrick Beverley can join the fray or if backups Malik Beasley or Jaylen Nowell can find some shooting form (they were a combined 7 for 27 last night and 0-13 from beyond the arc…sheesh!), favor the T-wolves plus. Minnesota now 18-7 “over” on the road after last night’s loss at Golden State.

NBA Stat Sheet

Each day, WagerTalk handicapper Ralph Michaels puts together his NBA Stat Sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Friday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota Timberwolves contest.

NBA Betting Strategy

Ride the hot and fade the cold. Which advanced stats should you be paying the most attention to? Kelly Stewart sat down with Teddy Covers and Skee Profit to discuss some of their favorite NBA betting tips.

NBA 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, moneylines, first half lines and betting percentages for all of Friday’s NBA games, including this Phoenix Suns vs Minnesota Timberwolves showdown, from your desktop or phone.

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