Two teams trending in vastly different directions meet up in Minnesota tonight, when the Dallas Mavericks (19-35) roll into the Target Center to take on All-Star game MVP Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves (34-22).
Mavericks vs. Timberwolves tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday from Minneapolis, MN., live on ESPN.
Below, we’ll break down our Mavericks vs. Timberwolves prediction, spread, and Friday NBA picks for PrizePicks. Use PrizePicks NBA to make picks on player projections and win real money if you’re right.
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Mavericks vs. Timberwolves Prediction, Spread
As the All-Star break approached, Mavericks G/F Cooper Flagg was playing the best basketball of his rookie season. Now they’re without Flagg (foot), so a trip into the Wolves' den to take on a T-Wolves team that was playing some of the best ball in the Western Conference prior to the All-Star break is more nerve-wracking than initially thought.
It’s not all darkness for the Mavericks, as Flagg is still the overwhelming favorite to be the Rookie of the Year. “Yes” on Flagg to bring home the award is currently returning a 1.2x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks.
The Timberwolves won back-to-back games heading into the All-Star break and saw their superstar guard, Anthony Edwards, win All-Star MVP over the weekend. They are 7-3 over their last 10 games, the second-best record in the Western Conference over that span. With a 34-22 record, they are currently in sixth place in the Western Conference, but the gap between third and sixth is just one game.
In a congested West, every game carries significant playoff seeding implications. Despite being significant favorites over the Mavericks, the Timberwolves can’t afford to take their foot off the gas for the rest of the season.
Mavericks vs. Timberwolves Spread, Over/Under
The Timberwolves enter Friday's game as 12.5-point home favorites, returning a 1.12x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Mavericks are road underdogs with a 5.26x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Minnesota Timberwolves -12.5 (1.78x payout)
- Over/Under: 238.5 (1.85x payout on over)
- Game Winner Payout: Mavericks 5.26x | Timberwolves 1.12x
Team Picks payouts are live as of publishing and are subject to change.
Mavericks vs. Timberwolves Injury Report
Let’s dive into the full Mavericks vs. Timberwolves injury report for Friday, via NBA.com.
Mavericks Injury Report
- SF Max Christie (ankle): Questionable
- C Daniel Gafford (ankle): Questionable
- PG Cooper Flagg (foot): OUT
- C Derrick Lively II (foot): OUT
Timberwolves Injury Report
- No players listed
Mavericks vs. Timberwolves Prediction on Spread
Here are some stats to help you make your Mavericks vs. Timberwolves prediction on the spread today.
- The Mavericks are 23-31-0 (42.6%) against the spread (ATS) this season, the third-worst record in the league.
- On the road, that number somehow gets even worse as they are 7-16-0 (30.4%) ATS, the worst record in the NBA.
- Over the last 10 games, there is a 16.3 difference in net rating between these two teams. The Timberwolves are sixth in the NBA with a net rating of +8.2, while the Mavs are 25th at -8.1.
- The Timberwolves have advantages all over the court, but perhaps the biggest should come on the glass. This season, they rank eighth in rebounding percentage at 50.5%, while the Mavericks rank 20th at 49.2%.
Mavericks vs. Timberwolves NBA Picks, Stats for PrizePicks Today
Here are two of the top Mavericks vs. Timberwolves to consider for PrizePicks today. Player projections via the PrizePicks real-money NBA game.
Mavericks SF Naji Marshall vs. Timberwolves Projection: 27.5 Pts+Reb+Asts
- The Timberwolves have the seventh-best defensive rating in the NBA this season (112.4).
- F Naji Marshall is averaging just 23 points, rebounds, and assists (PRA) per game this year.
- This is a slight pace-down game for the Mavericks, who rank fourth in the league in pace this year, while the Timberwolves rank ninth.
- The Timberwolves defense ranks in the top half of the NBA in both opponent rebounds and assists allowed. They give up just 43.2 rebounds (eleventh) and 26.1 assists (eleventh) per game.
Timberwolves PF Julius Randle vs. Mavericks Projection: 34.5 Pts+Reb+Asts
- Julius Randle is averaging 34.7 PRA per game this season.
- The Mavericks defense is giving up the third-most rebounds (47.1) and eighth-most assists (27.3) per game this season.
- Randle is averaging .4 more rebounds and .7 more assists per game at home than on the road.
- The Timberwolves offense should be able to get whatever they want all night vs this Mavericks defense that over their last ten games has the seventh-worst defensive rating in the NBA (117.4).
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Make Mavericks vs. Timberwolves NBA Picks on PrizePicks
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