TWolves vs. Pelicans Betting Line – January 19
Carrie Stroup here with your T’Wolves vs. Pelicans betting line for Tuesday night New Orleans -5, Total: 203
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (13-29) at NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (13-27)
Two of the Western Conference’s worst teams clash on Tuesday when the Timberwolves face the Pelicans in New Orleans.
The Timberwolves hosted the Suns on Sunday and came away with a 117-87 victory as 3.5-point home favorites. Minnesota had lost its previous nine games before that victory, but the team has covered in three of the past four contests.
The Pelicans, meanwhile, lost 101-99 as five-point underdogs in Memphis on Monday afternoon. New Orleans had won its previous two games SU and the team is playing a lot better recently.
This is going to be the first meeting between these two teams on the season and the Pelicans have really gotten the best of this matchup in recent years. New Orleans is 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS versus Minnesota over the past three seasons and that includes a 3-0 SU and ATS record when playing at Smoothie King Center. The Timberwolves have lost their past four games in New Orleans and their last win there was in 2012.
One thing favoring the Timberwolves is that the Pelicans are just 2-12 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to six points over the past three seasons. Minnesota is, however, just 1-13 ATS after having covered in three of its past four games over the past two seasons.
The Timberwolves are coming off of their first win in the past 10 games and will be hoping to string together a few wins in a row starting with one over the Pelicans on Tuesday.
SF Andrew Wiggins (20.8 PPG) is Minnesota’s most dangerous player and he will need to be on his game against New Orleans. Over the past five contests, Wiggins is averaging 22.8 PPG and has really been thriving. He’ll need to continue to be aggressive moving forward, as he has shown he can be a bit tentative at times throughout his young career.
PF Karl-Anthony Towns (15.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.7 BPG) is also a young stud for this Minnesota team. Over the past five contests, Towns is averaging 11.8 PPG and 10.0 RPG. He has not been playing great offensively, but that should turn around soon. He’s too talented on that end to struggle for a significant period of time, but the Timberwolves will really need him to dig in defensively on Tuesday. He’ll be matched up with Anthony Davis in this game and if he is struggling on that end then the Pelicans will likely blow them out in this one.
One guy that could be an x-factor in this one is SF Shabazz Muhammad (9.4 PPG). Muhammad has scored at least 11 points in four of the past five games and is adding a serious scoring punch off the bench. It would really help his team if he could do so again here.
The Pelicans have been playing a lot better recently and a lot of that has to do with PG Jrue Holiday (13.5 PPG, 4.9 APG, 1.0 SPG) finding his game. Over the past five contests, Holiday is averaging 17.0 PPG, 7.4 APG and 5.4 RPG. If he can continue to shoot the ball well and stay active in all aspects of the game then his team will continue to win.
PF Anthony Davis (22.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.5 BPG) also happens to be playing at a high level, averaging 22.3 PPG over the past three contests. That isn’t much for Davis, but it has been the efficiency that is truly impressive. Over the past two games, Davis is 14-for-26 from the field and he will need to continue to find shots that are easier for him. He was forcing earlier in the season, but he’s doing a better job now that his teammates are playing better.
PF Ryan Anderson (17.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG) has really been a spark for the Pelicans all season. Over the past five games, Anderson is averaging 19.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG. His ability to stretch the floor is remarkable for a big man and he is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
