The Toronto Raptors will face the Timberwolves in Minnesota on the second night of a back-to-back Wednesday after a 14th consecutive loss against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Timberwolves on the other hand are boasting an impressive run with eight victories in their last 10 games. This has positioned them remarkably in the highly competitive race for the Western Conference’s top seed, a contest that also features tough opponents in the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Merely half a game separates the Timberwolves from the first seed. A victory over the Raptors would temporarily take them to the top of the Western Conference standings.
Bet on Raptors vs. Timberwolves
TOR +16
MIN -16
Let’s look at the best betting odds on both teams for this upcoming matchup:
Raptors vs. Timberwolves best odds
| Raptors Moneyline Odds | +950 at NorthStar Bets |
| Timberwolves Moneyline Odds | -1250 at PointsBet |
| Over/Under | Over 215.5 points (-106) at Pinnacle Under 216 points (-109) at NorthStar Bets |
| Spread | Timbewolves -15.5 (-110) at Caesars Raptors +16 (-105) at Pinnacle |
| Time/Date | April 3, 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: TSN Stream: NBA League Pass (How to watch the NBA in Canada?) |
Betting Toronto Raptors (23-52 SU, 32-43 ATS, 37-38 o/u)
The Toronto Raptors welcomed LeBron James and the Lakers, only to suffer another disappointing defeat with a final score of 128-111. This loss marked the Raptors’ 14th consecutive setback. However, the game also saw the return of key players RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, who had been sidelined for several matches due to personal reasons. Both players made significant contributions upon their return, leading the team in scoring. Barrett showcased his skills with a standout performance of 28 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Quickley added 20 points and six assists to the effort.
Quickley is set to face a formidable challenge as he faces off against the Timberwolves, a team currently ranked sixth in limiting points scored by point guards. Furthermore, the Timberwolves’ defence stands as the toughest in the league concerning three-pointers made and assists allowed to point guards, hinting at a potentially tough outing for Quickley in terms of scoring and playmaking.
Barrett faces a defensive unit that ranks third in limiting points and second in reducing rebounds to power forwards, alongside being the most challenging in terms of assists allowed to the position. Lastly, Kelly Olynyk is up against a defence that is particularly stingy in allowing rebounds to centres, ranked fifth in the league.
Betting Minnesota Timberwolves (52-23 SU, 39-36 ATS, 36-39 o/u)
The Timberwolves are heading into their second game of a back-to-back after a hard-fought 113-106 victory over the Houston Rockets. In that contest, Naz Reid emerged as the leading scorer for the Timberwolves, putting up an impressive 25 points, complemented by six rebounds, two steals, and a block, showcasing his versatile skill set. Anthony Edwards also played a crucial role in the victory, contributing 21 points, and two steals, highlighting his importance to the team’s offensive efforts. Rudy Gobert’s presence in the paint was undeniable, as he secured a double-double with 12 points and a dominant 14 rebounds. Lastly, Kyle Anderson rounded out the Timberwolves’ stellar performance with a stat line that filled the box score: 13 points, six rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and two blocks.
In the last 15 games, the Raptors’ defensive lineup has been less than stable, mostly due to injuries. One area that’s taken a significant hit is their defence against small forwards, where they have been allowing the most points, rebounds, and the seventh-most assists. Jaden McDaniels will be stepping into this prime spot against the Raptors. Given the Raptors’ current form, McDaniels has the perfect setup to potentially dominate on the scoreboard, excel in grabbing rebounds, and dish out assists with ease.
Reid has a golden opportunity against the Raptors who give up the third-most points and fifth-most rebounds to power forwards. Lastly, Gobert also finds himself in a potentially favourable matchup. The Raptors have been overly generous to centres, offering up the seventh-most points, the most rebounds, and the fourth-most assists. Given this, Gobert has an excellent opportunity to showcase his dominance on the boards and in scoring, especially with Raptors’ starting centre Jakob Poeltl sidelined due to injury.
Anthony Edwards under 25.5 points
-115
Raptors vs. Timberwolves injury concerns
- Scottie Barnes suffered a fracture to the third metacarpal bone of his left hand and is considered out indefinitely.
- Poeltl is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left pinkie finger.
- Chris Boucher suffered a partial MCL tear in his right knee and is without a timeline for return.
- Jontay Porter (personal) has been ruled out.
- Ochai Agbaji (hip) is questionable.
- Bruce Brown (knee) is questionable.
- Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) has been ruled out.
NBA betting trends
- Toronto is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games.
- Minnesota is 1-3 ATS in its last four games.
- The under is 6-3 in Minnesota’s last nine games.
NBA player prop trends
- Anthony Edwards has scored 25 points or less in each of his last five games. He’s averaging 26 points per game. His line is at -120 at FanDuel to score under 26.5 points against the Raptors.
- Gobert has recorded 14 rebounds or less in each of his last five games. He is averaging 12.9 rebounds per game this season. His line is at -102 at FanDuel to record under 14.5 rebounds.
- Mike Conley has recorded two rebounds or less in four of his last five games. He is averaging 2.8 rebounds per game this season. His line is at -105 at DraftKings to record under 2.5 rebounds.
NBA bets to consider
- Timberwolves Moneyline; Edwards under 25.5 points; Gobert under 14.5 rebounds: +260 (bet365). Edwards and Gobert have not hit their specific lines in their last five games. With this game projected to be a blowout on the second night of a back-to-back, it’s possible they could get rested midway through the game. With the spread set at -16, it’s probable the Timberwolves cruise to an easy victory here.
- Over 215.5 points: -106 (Pinnacle). The Raptors got back Quickley and Barrett who are two of their top scorers which will help their offence a lot. The Timberwolves will also feast on the Raptors defence so it’s projected to be a high-scoring game.
