New Orleans Pelicans vs Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Pick & Prediction 3/21/25
At 8:00 ET, the Timberwolves (-930) will host the Pelicans (+615) at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves are favored by 13.5 points, and the over/under line is set at 228.5.
Minnesota is currently 8th in the Western Conference with a record of 40-31, while New Orleans is 14th in the West at 19-51. The Timberwolves (-2) have dropped two straight games, while the Pelicans (+2) have lost two of their last three.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS VS MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves -13.5
This game will be played at Target Center at 8:00 ET on Friday, March 21st.
WHY BET THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 131-112 in favor of the Timberwolves.
- Our projections have Anthony Edwards finishing with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
- From the field, we have the Timberwolves finishing with a field goal percentage of 46.1% and knocking down 18 threes.
Is a Win at Minneapolis Possible for the Pelicans?
The Pelicans improved to 19-51 on the season with a 119-115 road win over the Timberwolves on Wednesday. New Orleans entered the game as +13.5 point underdogs but not only covered the spread, they pulled off the upset. The total score of 234 points went over the pre-game line of 227.
A key moment in the game was a 14-0 run by the Pelicans, which extended their lead from 43-35 to 57-35. New Orleans took control in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, outscoring Minnesota 72-61, and held on for the win despite being outscored 24-23 in the 4th quarter.
Zion Williamson led the Pelicans to a win over the Timberwolves, scoring 29 points and dishing out 8 assists while shooting 75% from the field. New Orleans shot 52.8% as a team, knocking down 13 threes at a 44.8% clip.
Bruce Brown hit 4 threes, finishing with 15 points, including 8 in the 4th quarter. Kelly Olynyk and Yves Missi also added 8 points each in the final period.
Even though the Pelicans gave up 115 points, they tightened up defensively in the 4th quarter, allowing just 24 points to help secure the win. Overall, New Orleans allowed Minnesota to shoot 45% from the field.
The Pelicans struggled to defend the three, with the Timberwolves hitting 16 threes at a 41% clip. New Orleans also sent Minnesota to the line 36 times, where they made 29 free throws. The Pelicans finished with 5 steals and 6 blocks.
Can Minnesota Grab a Win at Home?
The Timberwolves fell to 40-31 on the season after a 119-115 home loss to the Pelicans on Wednesday. Minnesota entered the game as -13.5 point favorites but failed to cover the spread. The total score of 234 points exceeded the over/under line of 227.
New Orleans went on a decisive 14-0 run, stretching the score from 43-35 to 57-35. While the Timberwolves outscored the Pelicans 24-23 in the 4th quarter, they couldn’t overcome the deficit.
In their 119-115 loss to the Pelicans, the Timberwolves connected on 16 threes, shooting 41% from deep, though their overall field goal percentage was just 45.5%. Anthony Edwards led the way with 29 points, despite hitting only 26.3% of his shots, adding 4 threes at a 40% clip.
Julius Randle contributed 17 points, shooting 70% from the field, while Mike Conley added 16 points, hitting 4 threes at 66.7%. Edwards scored 11 points in the 3rd quarter, while Conley added 8 in the opening period.
Defensively, the Timberwolves had a strong start and finish, allowing just 24 points in the 1st quarter and 23 in the 4th. However, they struggled in the middle, giving up 38 points in the 2nd and 34 in the 3rd, leading to a 119-115 loss to the Pelicans.
Minnesota allowed New Orleans to shoot 52% from the field, including 44% from three-point range, with the Pelicans hitting 13 threes. The Timberwolves sent the Pelicans to the line 22 times, where they made 12 free throws. Defensively, Minnesota recorded 7 steals and 6 blocks.