Minnesota Timberwolves will host the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 3 of the NBA playoffs first round. The hosts will try to bounce back after the latest defeat and take the lead in the tie again. The away side searches for the away win and a chance to build up on its latest display.
Minnesota managed to stun the Grizzlies in the series opener, but they failed to repeat the same on Tuesday evening. The home side looks forward to putting a better performance in front of its fans in the upcoming game. On the other hand, Memphis didn’t let themselves going 2-0 down in this tie, and they managed to level the score. The visitors now want to make an upset on the road and reset the series.
Minnesota Timberwolves – Can they celebrate on the home court?
The Timberwolves move to the home court with an away victory in their pockets in Game 1 of the series. However, they were not even close to another upset since they lost to the Grizzlies 124-96 on Tuesday evening. Minnesota had a poor 39.5 field goal percentage while hitting only 28.9 of their three-point attempts. The T-Wolves made 20 turnovers in that game, which severely affected their chances of celebrating again. Anthony Edwards was the only Minnesota player to reach the 20s, while just four other players managed to produce a double-digit number of points in that game.
Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns lead the T-Wolves in the post-season, averaging 28 and 22 points per game, respectively. Towns is the most dominant Minnesota player in the paint with 12 rebounds per match, while D’Angelo Russell has a team-high 6.5 assists and 10.5 pts. Malik Beasley is another player that contributes with a double-digit number of points per contest – 15 – while Jaden McDaniels has three blocks per match. Thanks to a fully healthy roster, the Timberwolves won’t have selection issues in this encounter.
Expected Line-Up: Patrick Beverley, D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Jarred Vanderbilt, Karl-Anthony Towns
with best odds
Memphis Grizzlies – Will they take the lead in this tie?
The Grizzlies managed to recover after an unexpected defeat in the opening match of the tie and beat Minnesota 124-96 in Game 2. Ja Morant led their way to the victory by scoring 23 points and being just a rebound away from the triple-double. Memphis’s bench has contributed a lot in that game, producing a total of 60 points. The Grizzlies hit almost half of their field goal attempts (47.8) and, with eight turnovers less than their rivals, cruised to the victory.
It’s not surprising that Ja Morant is the most productive player in Memphis’s offense during the post-season, with 27.5 points per match. He also tops the assists charts with nine, while Brandon Clarke has a team-high 7.5 rebounds and 13 points per game. Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane have contributed with 16.5 pts per contest each, while Jaren Jackson Jr. has 14. On the other hand, the Grizzlies still cannot count on Killian Tillie, while Santi Aldama is also unavailable.
Expected Line-Up: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams
Expert Pick #1 – Minnesota Timberwolves +2 @-110
Although they are considered home underdogs, I’m leaning towards the hosts to cover the number. They managed to steal the home court, and they can put a good performance in front of their fans. This is going to be my first pick for this matchup.
Expert Pick #2 – Under 237.5 @-110
These two teams have been involved in many efficient matches this season, but the Under is a reasonable choice for the second bet. The T-Wolves hold their rivals at around 43% field goal shooting at home, and this game should stay under the 237.5 margin.
Expert Pick #3 – Anthony Edwards Over 24.5 @+100
Edwards has been the most productive player for Minnesota in the first two games, and I expect him to pick up where he left off. He should be inspired on the home court, and I think he might score more than 24 points in this one. It’s going to be my third pick at the plus money odds.
