Timberwolves vs Thunder Prediction NBA Play-In Game 4/14

A Plus Picks
Apr 13, 2023, 9:16:37 PM

Game Preview: Thunder vs Timberwolves - NBA Picks, Expert Predictions, and More

The Oklahoma City Thunder (40-42, ninth in the Western Conference) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (42-40, eighth in the Western Conference) will face off on Friday at 9:30 p.m. EDT in Minneapolis to decide the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Timberwolves are the favorites, with a -4.5 point spread and an over/under of 231.5. The Timberwolves have a 7-3 record in their last 10 games, while the Thunder are 4-6. Minnesota is averaging 117.0 points per game, while Oklahoma City is averaging 116.4 points per game. Top performers for the Timberwolves include Anthony Edwards, who is averaging 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, and Mike Conley, who has made 2.6 three-pointers per game over the past 10 games. For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.4 points, 5.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, and Josh Giddey is averaging 18 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists over the past 10 games. The Timberwolves are 8-8 against Northwest Division opponents, while the Thunder are 9-7 in division matchups. In terms of injuries, the Timberwolves are without Naz Reid (wrist) and Jaden McDaniels (hand), while the Thunder are missing Chet Holmgren (foot), Aleksej Pokusevski (knee), and Kenrich Williams (wrist). Get NBA picks from experts, NBA picks computer predictions, and more for this exciting play-in game between the Thunder and the Timberwolves. Don't miss out on the best NBA bets today!

Thunder: Offensive Analysis

The Oklahoma City Thunder will face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Playoffs Play-In Tournament, battling it out for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. For the Thunder, their offense will need to step up if they hope to come out with a victory. Over their last 10 games, the Thunder have averaged 116.4 points per game, shooting 45.4% from the field. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been the standout player, averaging 31.4 points, 5.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Josh Giddey has also been impressive, averaging 18 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists over the last 10 games. However, the Thunder will need more than just a few standout players to win. Their assists per game average of 24.4 is only ranked 20th in the league, and their effective field goal percentage of 53.1% is ranked 24th. Additionally, their turnover rate of 13.0 per game is ranked 4th in the league. The Timberwolves defense is not one to be taken lightly, with an opponent points per game average of 115.7 and an opponent effective field goal percentage of 53.9%. The Thunder will need to move the ball effectively and limit turnovers in order to avoid giving the Timberwolves easy scoring opportunities. Overall, the Thunder offense will need to come prepared and focused if they hope to secure the eighth seed in the Western Conference. The experts, NBA picks computers, and predictions all point to a closely contested matchup, but with the right offensive game plan, the Thunder can come out on top.

Thunder: Defensive Analysis

In this crucial play-in game for the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder need a strong defensive performance to contain the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Thunder are currently ranked 19th in the league in defense, allowing an average of 116.4 points per game. To secure a victory, they must focus on containing Minnesota's top performers and limiting their offensive opportunities. Anthony Edwards leads the Timberwolves with an impressive average of 24.6 points per game, alongside 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals. Mike Conley is another key player for Minnesota, averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. The Thunder will need to put pressure on these players and disrupt their offensive rhythm to limit their impact on the game. On the defensive end, the Thunder will be relying on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey to step up. Gilgeous-Alexander has been an impressive force this season, averaging 31.4 points, 5.5 assists, and 1.6 steals. Meanwhile, Giddey has been contributing with 18 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists over the last 10 games. The Thunder will need these two players to continue their impressive defensive performance and keep the Timberwolves at bay. Overall, the Thunder's defense will play a critical role in determining the outcome of this game. To secure a victory and claim the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, they will need to limit Minnesota's offensive opportunities and contain their top performers. With a strong defensive game plan and contributions from key players, the Thunder can come out on top in this crucial play-in game.

Timberwolves: Offensive Analysis

The Minnesota Timberwolves head into their crucial play-in game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a strong offense that has helped them win 7 of their last 10 games. Led by rookie sensation Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves have averaged 117.0 points per game, shooting an impressive 49.1% from the field during this stretch. One area of concern for the Timberwolves is their three-point shooting, as they rank only 18th in the league with a 35.5% success rate from beyond the arc. This could be an issue if they rely too heavily on the three-point shot in a high-pressure game like this one. Minnesota's offense will also need to watch out for Oklahoma City's strong defense, which has held opponents to just 116.4 points per game on average this season. The Thunder have also been effective at defending the paint, allowing just 50.6 points per game, which could limit the effectiveness of the Timberwolves' interior scoring. Despite these challenges, the Timberwolves have the talent and offensive firepower to come out on top in this game. Fans and experts alike will be watching closely to see if they can deliver on their potential and clinch the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. As always, basketball fans should consult the latest NBA picks, experts' predictions, and NBA picks and parlays to get the best insights and analysis for this game and others on the NBA slate for today.

Timberwolves: Defensive Analysis

In this crucial game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Minnesota Timberwolves will need to rely on their defense to secure a victory and claim the eighth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Here's an analysis of their defensive performance and what they need to do to win. Overall, the Timberwolves have been solid defensively this season, ranking in the middle of the league in most defensive categories. They've allowed 115.7 points per game, which puts them just outside the top half of the league in terms of points allowed. However, they've been much better at defending the paint, where they allow just 50.8 points per game, good for 17th in the league. While the Timberwolves have been decent defensively, they'll need to step up their game against the Thunder. Oklahoma City is averaging 116.4 points per game and has a number of talented scorers on their roster. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.4 points per game over his last 10 games, while Josh Giddey is averaging 18 points and 5.8 assists over the same stretch. To slow down the Thunder, the Timberwolves will need to focus on their perimeter defense. Oklahoma City is shooting just 35.5% from beyond the arc, which puts them in the bottom half of the league in terms of three-point shooting. The Timberwolves will need to contest every shot and limit open looks from deep. Additionally, the Timberwolves will need to dominate the glass to limit the Thunder's second-chance opportunities. Minnesota is averaging just 50 rebounds per game, which puts them in the bottom third of the league. However, they'll be facing a Thunder team that averages just 51.5 rebounds per game, so the Timberwolves should have a good chance to control the boards. Overall, the Timberwolves will need a complete defensive effort to secure a victory and earn a spot in the playoffs. If they can limit the Thunder's three-point shooting and dominate the glass, they should have a good chance to come out on top. NBA picks experts and computer NBA picks algorithms are likely to favor the Timberwolves' defensive effort in this game.

Injury Report:

Both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves have some key players out or dealing with injuries ahead of their play-in game. For the Timberwolves, Naz Reid is out with a wrist injury and Jaden McDaniels is out with a hand injury. Meanwhile, the Thunder are without Chet Holmgren for the season due to a foot injury, and Aleksej Pokusevski is also out with a knee injury. Additionally, Kenrich Williams is out for the season with a wrist injury. These injuries could impact both teams' ability to perform at their best in this critical game.

Player	Team	Position	Injury Status
Naz Reid	Minnesota Timberwolves	C	Out (wrist)
Jaden McDaniels	Minnesota Timberwolves	PF	Out (hand)
Chet Holmgren	Oklahoma City Thunder	PF	Out for season (foot)
Aleksej Pokusevski	Oklahoma City Thunder	F	Out (knee)
Kenrich Williams	Oklahoma City Thunder	SF	Out for season (wrist)

Betting Trends

As the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder battle it out for the eighth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs, betting trends show some interesting insights into the game. According to NBA Picks Experts, the Timberwolves are 8-8 against Northwest Division opponents and have a 15-16 record in games decided by at least 10 points. On the other hand, the Thunder are 9-7 in division matchups and have a 7-7 record in games decided by three points or fewer. NBA Picks Computer predicts that the Timberwolves will cover the spread of 4.5 points, while NBA Picks Emporium predicts a close game with the over/under set at 231.5. Furthermore, NBA Picks and Parlays predict a top performance from Anthony Edwards, who is averaging 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals for the Timberwolves. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to perform well for the Thunder with an average of 31.4 points, 5.5 assists, and 1.6 steals. Best NBA Bets Today also suggest that the Timberwolves are the favorites to win the game, with a 7-3 record in their last ten games and an average of 117.0 points per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. However, the Thunder have shown some resilience with a 4-6 record in their last ten games and an average of 116.4 points per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Overall, NBA Expert Picks Today indicate the Timberwolves as the favorites to win the game and claim the eighth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. However, betting trends suggest that the Thunder could put up a good fight with their well-rounded offense and defense.