Bulls vs. Timberwolves Pick
Can the Minnesota Timberwolves cover the spread as a home favorite versus the Chicago Bulls tonight despite being without the services of star Jimmy Butler? Game time is 9PM ET.
CURRENT ODDS
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Timberwolves are listed as a 7-point favorite on the spread line. The over-under is set at 220 points.
LINE MOVEMENT
Minnesota opened as an 11-point fave before the Butler injury pushed the spread down. The total has gone up slightly from 219.5. If you are betting the total, it can still be found at 219 at various sites.
PUBLIC BETTING
As of Saturday afternoon, 51 percent of public bets were being placed on the Timberwolves. Online wager info also states that 59 percent of bets are coming in on the over.
INJURY TO WATCH
Bulls small forward Paul Zipser departed last game with a foot injury and is doubtful to play tonight. Butler left last night’s loss at Houston with a knee injury and will not play tonight. X-rays were negative, but an MRI is still pending.
BETTING STRATEGY
Teams often rise to the occasion in the first game or two without a star player. In the case of the T-Wolves, they have another star in center Karl-Anthony Towns plus a second former No. 1 overall pick in Andrew Wiggins who has stepped up his scoring considerably when Butler has been absent this season. I believe this spread dropped a little too much after the Butler injury occurred. Chicago is going through a youth movement and while its slew of guards and interior players are talented, there are plenty of growing pains. Expect Towns’ usage to be much higher than normal tonight as he feasts on a soft Bulls interior.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES -7