Timberwolves vs Jazz Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Depleted Minnesota Still Trumps Utah

Even with injuries to their all-world frontcourt, the Minnesota Timberwolves continue to chug along.

After dumping the Utah Jazz on Saturday night, Minnesota is back in Salt Lake tonight, looking to complete a four-game season sweep of the Jazz, which would be a franchise first.

They’re tabbed as 8-point favorites in the NBA odds, facing a Utah side staggering down the home stretch, losers of four of its last five and 12 of 15.

Read on for my free NBA picks for Timberwolves vs Jazz on Monday, March 18, and see if injuries will continue to play a factor.

Timberwolves vs Jazz odds

Timberwolves vs Jazz predictions

With Karl-Anthony Towns out for at least another month with a knee injury and Rudy Gobert out with a rib injury, Anthony Edwards took the reins, guiding the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 119-100 win over the Utah Jazz.

Edwards finished with 31 points, 10 boards, five assists, three steals, and three blocks. Backcourt mate Mike Conley went for 25 and backup big Naz Reid stepped into the starting lineup with 22 points, 12 boards, and five assists. They still dominated the paint with their depleted frontcourt, outscoring the Jazz 56-46 down low, while drilling an impressive 19 of 41 from distance, a crisp 46.3% clip, outscoring the Jazz by 39 in that category.

The question is how well the Timberwolves, battling with the Nuggets and Thunder for the top spot in the West, can hold up as injuries continue to hamper this breakthrough season. Gobert, forward Kyle Anderson (shoulder), and backup point man Monte Morris (hamstring) are all questionable for Monday.

The Jazz aren’t functioning at full strength either, with sixth man Jordan Clarkson (groin) and All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen (quad) also questionable tonight.

This season’s head-to-head matchups haven’t been particularly close, with the Jazz dropping all three by double digits, the closest margin of defeat being 11 points. While the Jazz did shoot a more respectable 45.8% from the field, the Wolves’ top-rated field-goal shooting D has limited them to a bleak 40.7% shooting through three games.

Utah’s inability to get it cooking from 3-point range is a major issue against the top-scoring defense in the NBA. It's connected on just 29 of 103 attempts vs. Minny this season, a paltry 28.2% mark.

Minnesota has won five of the last six meetings overall and has covered the spread in four. Even with question marks dotting their roster, look for the Timberwolves to keep cooking while the Jazz continue their roster evaluations, finding out who might be part of the plans for next season and beyond.

My best bet: Timberwolves -8 (-110 at DraftKings)

Timberwolves vs Jazz same-game parlay

Timberwolves -8

Mike Conley Under 13.5 points

Anthony Edwards Over 31.5 points

+495 at DraftKings

The books are looking for Conley's performance to revert to the mean, with his scoring total set at 13.5 points after eclipsing 20 points in consecutive games for the first time this year. I tend to agree. Before this mini-hot streak, Conley had topped this total just twice in his previous seven games, scoring in single digits five times. Conley scored 15 points combined on 5-for-15 shooting in two previous matchups vs. his former team.

Edwards has taken up the added burden of being the man with KAT gone, averaging 31.2 points over the last five games, just a shade below his total set at 31.5. Ant has some big scoring numbers, including a 44-point bomb at Indiana and a 37-point explosion against the Clippers.

The two times he’s struggled over this stretch offensively, so have the Timberwolves, dropping decisions to the Lakers (25 points) and Cavaliers (19 points), while shooting a combined 17-for-50 from the field (34%).

Edwards makes it possible for Minnesota to carry on while getting healthy. I don’t see anyone on the Jazz slowing him.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Timberwolves vs Jazz spread and Over/Under analysis

The spread opened at Minnesota -7.5 but has moved up a point since — with the status of players on both sides still up in the air.

The Jazz have a better cover record, going 36-31-2 against the spread, with the Wolves at 34-33-0 ATS, though they own a 6-3-1 ATS mark against Utah in the last 10 games.

The total opened at 221.5 and can be found as high as 223.5, with sites offering action on figures everywhere in between.

Minnesota is just about breaking even with its Over/Under record, going 33-34-0, while the Jazz have the second-best Over record in the NBA, going 37-28-2.

Timberwolves vs Jazz betting trend to know

The Timberwolves have covered the spread in eight straight road games against the Jazz. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Jazz.

Timberwolves vs Jazz game info

Timberwolves vs Jazz latest injuries

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