Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves odds, picks and predictions

Drew Phelps | Staff Writer

The Houston Rockets (23-25) and Minnesota Timberwolves (34-15) meet Sunday at Target Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rockets vs. Timberwolves odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.

Season series: Wolves lead 1-0

The Rockets posted a 135-106 win over the Toronto Raptors Friday night. They easily covered as 4-point favorites, and the Over (232) hit. Houston has covered 4 of their last 5 against the spread (ATS). They were led in scoring by F Cam Whitmore, who had 25 points off the bench, but the real star was C Alperen Sengun with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists in the victory. The Rockets have gone 16-12 against Western Conference opponents.

Minnesota blew a 17-point lead at home Friday night against the Orlando Magic, falling 108-106. It lost outright as a 7-point favorite, and the Over (212.5) hit. G Anthony Edwards and C Rudy Gobert both scored 22 points in the loss. It also got 19 points from C Karl-Anthony Towns. Minnesota holds its opponents to 45.5 points in the paint per game, which is 2nd-best in the NBA. The Timberwolves are 23-8 against Western Conference opponents.

In a Jan. 5 meeting, Minnesota covered as a 4-point favorite in a 122-95 win at Houston.

Rockets at Timberwolves odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11 a.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Rockets +230 (bet $100 to win $230) | Timberwolves -275 (bet $275 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Rockets +7.5 (-110) | Timberwolves -7.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 221.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Rockets at Timberwolves key injuries

Rockets

F Tari Eason (leg) out

Timberwolves

C Rudy Gobert (ankle) questionable

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

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Rockets at Timberwolves picks and predictions

Prediction

Timberwolves 119, Rockets 106

Moneyline

The Timberwolves (-275) will cost you nearly 3 times your potential return, and that’s way too expensive to play straight up. They would be better suited to be thrown into a multi-team parlay.

AVOID.

Against the spread

BET TIMBERWOLVES -7.5 (-110) because they are in a good spot here against a sub-par Rockets team. Minnesota has won 8 of the last 10 games straight up against Houston and has covered the spread in 7 of them. That includes the 1st meeting this season when the Timberwolves covered as 4-point favorites.

Sengun has been fantastic this season, averaging 21.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, but he struggled in the last game against Minnesota's twin towers (Towns and Gobert). The Rockets go as he goes, and Minnesota should be able to keep the big man in check.

Over/Under

This line is moving fast. Just last night it was at 218, and now it's up to 221. That means the money is coming in on the Over, but it may be getting too high now. Their last game Jan. 5 went under this total at 217.

Minnesota has been Under in 5 of its last 6, while Houston has been Over in 6 of its last 10 games. They've had 2 Overs and 2 Unders in their last 4 meetings. I really don't see a clear advantage either way in this one.

AVOID.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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