*NBA(1.5u): Timberwolves -3(-110) @ Trail Blazers–9:10 PM CT
Historically, the Timberwolves are a bottom-feeder in the NBA, but you can’t treat this team as such. Minnesota is 23-23 on the season and enters tonight having won 3 of their last 4 games(wins over Warriors, Knicks, and Nets). The Timberwolves rank 3rd in the NBA in offensive efficiency over their last 3 games and enter this game rested. Portland, on the other hand, just completed a cross-country, 6 game road trip that wrapped up in Toronto on Sunday night. I like to fade teams in their first home game off of a long road trip, and considering it’s the Blazers we’re talking about, I will use that angle once again here. Don’t let Portland’s 20-26 record fool you; this has been a disastrous season for all parties. Damian Lillard is out long term, and the Blazers will also be without 2 key front court pieces in Larry Nance Jr. and Cody Zeller tonight; Karl Anthony Towns should feast in this one. While Norman Powell does return tonight, he hasn’t played since January 7th, so I’d expect his impact to be minimal. I read almost nothing into Portland’s recent success; this is a bad spot for a bad team. I think Minnesota controls this game from start to finish.
*CBB(1u): Cincinnati 1H -2(-110) @ Temple–6 PM CT
This will be Temple’s first game in 13 days after a pause in their schedule. While the Owls have won their last 3 games, that 2 week pause surely will kill any momentum they had created. Cincinnati is starting to play really well in conference play; they have won 4 out of their last 5, including a road win at Wichita State. Temple is likely to see the effects of their layoff come early in the game, mostly on the offensive end of the floor. Cincinnati ranks 43rd in defensive efficiency this season and shouldn’t be pushed too much by a slow-tempo Owls offense. This is a situational play for me in fading Temple early in this game off of a long break, but Cincinnati is also a team that’s trending upwards.
