The Minnesota Timberwolves will look to continue their recent dominance over the Cleveland Cavaliers when they meet in an inter-conference matchup on Friday. The Timberwolves (44-19), who outlasted the Pacers 113-111 on Thursday, have beaten the Cavaliers (40-22) in seven of the past 10 matchups. Cleveland, which is 21-11 on its home court, is coming off a 112-101 loss at Atlanta on Wednesday. The Wolves are 14-9 against the East, while the Cavs are 13-6 against the West. Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) is out for Minnesota, with Anthony Edwards (ankle) questionable. Donovan Mitchell (knee), Evan Mobley (ankle) and Max Strus (knee) are out for Cleveland.
The game from Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET. Minnesota is averaging 113.3 points per game, while Cleveland averages 114. The Cavs are 2.5-point favorites in the latest Timberwolves vs. Cavaliers odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 206. Before making any Cavaliers vs. Timberwolves picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions from SportsLine's proven model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 20 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 64-40 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,200. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Cavs vs. Wolves. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Wolves vs. Cavs:
- Timberwolves vs. Cavaliers spread: Cavaliers -2.5
- Timberwolves vs. Cavaliers over/under: 206 points
- Timberwolves vs. Cavaliers money line: Minnesota +119, Cleveland -141
- MIN: The Timberwolves are 21-11 on the road this season
- CLE: The Cavaliers have hit the game total under in 45 of their last 74 games (+14.25 units)
- Timberwolves vs. Cavaliers picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Timberwolves can cover
Point guard Mike Conley is also one of the Timberwolves' go-to offensive players, averaging 10.6 points, 6.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 57 games, all starts. Conley was red hot in the win over Portland on Monday, scoring 19 points, while dishing out seven assists. He had 14 points and eight assists in the 124-120 overtime loss to Sacramento on March 1. He has registered five double-doubles on the year, including a 17-point and 10-assist effort in a 118-103 win over Memphis on Jan. 18.
Power forward Jaden McDaniels recorded a near double-double in Thursday's win at Indiana. He scored 11 points, while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out six assists. He scored a season-high 26 points and added seven boards in the overtime loss to Sacramento. He has reached double-figure scoring 31 times this season. In 52 games, including 51 starts, McDaniels is averaging 10.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 29 minutes. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why the Cavaliers can cover
With Mitchell out, Cleveland will turn to point guard Darius Garland to help power the offense. He has reached double-digit scoring in each of the past five games, including a 16-point and 11-assist performance in a 105-104 win over Boston on Tuesday. He scored 29 points and added five rebounds and four assists in a 110-100 win at Detroit on March 1. In 38 games, all starts, he is averaging 18.2 points, 6.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals.
Center Jarrett Allen has been a beast of late, racking up three double-doubles in the past four games. In Wednesday's loss at Atlanta, he scored 18 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, while dishing out three assists. He had 21 points and 12 rebounds in the victory over Boston on Tuesday. In 57 games, all starts, he is averaging 15.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 blocks in 31.4 minutes. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Cavaliers vs. Timberwolves picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 217 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Timberwolves vs. Cavs, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 64-40 roll on top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
