Score Prediction: 76ers 113 – Timberwolves 116
NBA Pick: Timberwolves -2 (-108) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
The Minnesota Timberwolves are on the right side for Tuesday’s NBA picks when they host the Philadelphia 76ers – but what about the total?
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Tuesday, March 07, 2023 – 07:30 PM EST at Target Center
This is why we can’t have nice things. As we go to press late Monday night, the NBA odds are still on hold for Tuesday’s game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves – probably because Philly’s on the second of back-to-back games.
We do have some early overseas odds, though. The Wolves opened as 2-point home dogs, and the projections we’re looking at say they belong in your NBA picks; FiveThirtyEight even has Minnesota winning by two points.
Sadly, we don’t have any totals to work with yet, so we’ll have to reach a bit for our second bet on this matchup, but the Over has been on a tear lately across the league at 29-23 (55.8%) the past seven days, and it was the right call the last time these teams met.
Will Joel Embiid Play Tuesday?
We don’t know at press time. Embiid did play 37 minutes Monday night against the Indiana Pacers, and he was even more electric than usual, scoring 42 points as the Sixers (-6 away) prevailed 147-143.
It’ll be tempting for head coach Doc Rivers to keep Embiid in the lineup Tuesday. Philadelphia’s starting rotation is missing two players:
- Tobias Harris (left calf contusion)
- P.J. Tucker (back spasms)
Both these men are listed as day-to-day; word has it Tucker could make his return Tuesday, but we’re not hearing anything on Harris yet.
This is obviously frustrating from a betting standpoint. Embiid (plus-6.8 EPM at Dunks and Threes) is clearly Philadelphia’s best player, while Harris (plus-0.8 EPM) is developed into a quality two-way wing. Tucker (minus-2.5 EPM) is known as a 3-and-D guy, but the rest of his offense is horrible; his potential return doesn’t do our potential Over bet any favors.
How About Those Timberwolves?
They’re definitely on the upswing, aren’t they? The Wolves have won three straight SU and ATS to climb into the Top 6 in the Western Conference, and they’ve been off since Saturday, so that’s a definite advantage for this veteran group.
Karl-Anthony Towns (strained right calf) is still out indefinitely for Minnesota, but this isn’t really his team anymore – it’s all about their new “Big Three” of Anthony Edwards (plus-2.1 EPM), Rudy Gobert (plus-1.2 EPM) and Mike Conley (plus-1.5 EPM).
Granted, that’s not much of a Big Three. The Wolves are 4-4 SU and ATS since the trade deadline, where they sent D’Angelo Russell and others to the Los Angeles Lakers and received Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (minus-0.5 EPM) from the Utah Jazz, thus reuniting Conley and Gobert.
However, at least the former Jazz teammates seem to be clicking better now and Alexander-Walker has resuscitated his career with some quality two-way play of his own.
Head coach Chris Finch knows a thing or two about Alexander-Walker. They were both members of the New Orleans Pelicans three years ago – Finch as an assistant coach, and Walker as the No. 17 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Their familiarity is part of the reason Minnesota rolled the dice on that major three-team trade.
Picks and Prediction
It’s also yet another reason we might have to buck the recent league trends and recommend the Under for Tuesday’s basketball picks. The Under is 5-1 in Minnesota’s last six games; factor in the likely return of Tucker for Philadelphia, and it’s just the right thing to do.
In theory. We don’t even have an overseas total to work with yet, so protect your bankroll, wait for news on Embiid’s status before betting, and may the sphere be with you.
For Gopher State residents looking to bet on this game, you can check out our top Minnesota betting sites.
Score Prediction: 76ers 113 – Timberwolves 116
NBA Pick: Timberwolves -2 (-108) at Heritage Sports
NBA Pick: Under 229 (-105) at Bookmaker (visit our Bookmaker Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
