Minnesota Timberwolves vs San Antonio Spurs Predictions, Odds & Picks

• The San Antonio Spurs want to halt their two-game losing streak with a win over the Timberwolves.
• After the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 2-2 start, they are 3-10 and falling fast.
• Two of the NBA’s best playmakers, D’Angelo Russell and Demar Derozan feature in this matchup.

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Timberwolves vs Spurs Predictions and Picks

Count on the Spurs to find excellent opportunities and finish with efficiency. While the Timberwolves have good runs in them, the overall consistency of the Spurs should see them through.

Pick:

San Antonio Spurs to Win (-335)

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How to Watch Timberwolves vs Spurs

Head-to-Head: Timberwolves vs Spurs

A Focus On Youth

After acquiring D’Angelo Russell and bringing in Anthony Edwards as the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, many would’ve thought the Timberwolves took a step in the direction of success. How wrong many were.

While the T-Wolves are hampered by the absence of Karl-Anthony Towns, they’ve looked out of their depth against most teams in the NBA. While even Russell is disappointing, recent performances by rookies Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels have shown promise.

In their last game, Edwards and McDaniels combined for 24 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Was it a ground-breaking performance? Not at all. But their heart and hustle are infectious when they’re on the court, something they’ll need bundles of against a well-organized Spurs team.

San Antonio’s Bench Is Essential

The Spurs are playing smaller than we’ve ever seen them play before. As a result, San Antonio is playing at a faster pace and depending more on their bench production to win.

The Spurs’ bench trio of Mills, Gay, and Poeltl has led the team when their starters are struggling. As the youth of Walker, Johnson, and Murray experience their ups and downs, a solid bench unit has helped the Spurs to their success.

Considering the Timberwolves’ production issues, the Spurs can come away with an easy win if they get solid contributions from their reserves.

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Timberwolves Key Player: (G) D’Angelo Russell

After a short experiment with the Golden State Warriors, D’Angelo Russell got his wish when he reunited with Karl-Anthony Towns on the Minnesota Timberwolves. It is yet to all come together.

Russell is an adept shooter and capable playmaker, but the lack of depth on the T-Wolves is apparent. Scoring just 19 points in 28 minutes against the Cavaliers, Russell must show more initiative to lead the young Timberwolves.

Russell’s pick-and-roll play with the T-Wolves big men could unlock something for them. With more traditional big men in Poeltl and Aldridge, the Spurs could struggle against the pace and fluidity of the Timberwolves. Whether or not Minnesota pull it off is another question.

Spurs Key Player: (G) Demar Derozan

Demar Derozan has made quite the shift in his career by changing from volume scorer to efficient playmaker. Under Gregg Popovich’s system, Derozan’s usage is justified by his ability to initiate their plays.

Derozan is averaging 19.5 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. His uptick in three-point percentage to 35.1%, versus 28.4% for his career, has been a welcome surprise.

The Timberwolves don’t present one of the stoutest defenses, so Derozan may have the opportunity to score more than usual. At his lowest scoring rate since 2013, Derozan could be in for a big night.