Timberwolves vs Knicks Picks and Predictions: New York Falls Flat Against Visiting Wolves

Just when the New York Knicks start to give their fans some hope they go out and put up 87 points against one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. But the Knicks will need a short memory as they’ll play the second half of a back-to-back when they welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to Madison Square Garden.

The T-wolves offense is humming and with the edge in rest are a slight road favorite for this matchup. But who has the betting edge? Find out in our free NBA betting picks and predictions for Timberwolves vs. Knicks on January 18.

Timberwolves vs Knicks odds

Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.

The Knicks opened this matchup as 1.5-point home underdogs and early bettors are fading them, pushing the line to 2.5. The total hit the board at 211.5 and the Over has been bet hard so far, moving the line up to 214.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Timberwolves vs Knicks predictions

• Prediction: Timberwolves -2.5 (-110)
• Prediction: Over 213.5 (-110)
• Best bet: RJ Barrett Over 20.5 points (-115)

Predictions made on 01/18/2022 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Timberwolves vs Knicks game info

• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• Date: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: NBATV

Timberwolves vs Knicks betting preview

Injuries

Timberwolves: No key injuries to report.
Knicks: Nerlens Noel C (Questionable), Kemba Walker PG (Questionable), Cam Reddish SF (Out), Derrick Rose PG (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Under is 7-1 in Timberwolves' last eight when facing a team with a winning straight-up record and is 5-1 in the Knicks' last 6 home games. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Knicks.

Timberwolves vs Knicks picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Spread analysis

The Knicks took out the Timberwolves 96-88 when they met in Minnesota just back on Dec. 28, covering the 5.5-point spread. But the T-wolves have really picked up their play since then, particularly on offense. 

Minnesota has won five of its last seven games and leads the NBA in offensive rating and scoring over that stretch. And it certainly hasn’t hurt that Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards have returned and are arguably playing their best basketball of the season.

Towns has been particularly potent lately, putting up 29.3 points on 59% shooting while adding 9.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game over the last four games.

Meanwhile, the Knicks saw their three-game winning streak come to an end yesterday when they put up just 87 points in yesterday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Which is pretty much the name of the game for the Knicks this season. Inconsistency.

While New York saw an uptick in scoring during its winning streak, the Knicks still rank 23rd in offensive rating. But a big reason for the Knicks' struggles is that the defense has taken a step back this season. Last season, the Knicks were one of the best defenses in the NBA ranking fourth in defensive rating, this year it is a mediocre 16th.

With the Knicks still dealing with some injuries, playing their second game in as many nights, and having to try and slow down a streaking offense, backing the T-wolves to cover as short road chalk looks like the play here.

Prediction: Timberwolves -2.5 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

When it comes to the total, the early money has come in on the Over and it’s not hard to see why. For starters, as we mentioned, the Timberwolves offense is in a groove heading into this one.

Minnesota is averaging 121.1 points over the last seven games and while they are going up against a Knicks defense that allows just 105.4 points per contest, they are playing the second half of a back-to-back and the effort on defense is usually the first thing to go when legs get tired.

On the other side, while the Knick had an ugly offensive showing against the Hornets, they had averaged 112 points per game during their three-game winning streak. RJ Barrett has been a catalyst of the rejuvenated Knicks offense and will want to bounce back from a game where he had six turnovers. 

They’ll face a Timberwolves defense that has played better of late but still ranks 18th in opponent scoring and has allowed 116 points or more three times in its last four games and give up a lot of three attempts per game. Something the Knicks love to do.

This number is low enough that the Over looks like the play here.

Prediction: Over 213.5 (-110)

Best bet

Oddsmakers are finally starting to adjust to the fact that RJ Barret has started taking way more shots for the Knicks lately. But maybe not enough.

Books set Barrett's point total at 20.5 for this matchup, just like yesterday. He ended that game with 18 points. The thing is, he entered the fourth quarter with 18 points and Tom Thibodeau benched him with about eight minutes left in the game after an ugly turnover in a game the Knicks had lost long ago.

Barrett has become the focal point of the Knicks offense. He has taken 20 or more shots six times over his last nine games, something he did just four times in his first 28 contests. He had 18 attempts yesterday afternoon before getting pulled.

But that also means he is a little more rested for this matchup and is still averaging 24 points over his last nine games while shooting 46.5% from the floor which includes 41.5% from 3-point range. Bet on Barrett to keep firing away in this one.

Pick: RJ Barrett Over 20.5 points (-115)

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