Timberwolves vs Pacers Picks and Predictions: Wolves Hunt Floundering Indy

The new-look Indiana Pacers received mixed reviews in their debut Friday and have to cook up some chemistry quickly with the Minnesota Timberwolves wrapping a four-game road trip at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon.

The Pacers, who added Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Jalen Smith, and Tristan Thompson at the trade deadline, couldn’t avoid their fifth straight loss last time out, but did see some positives on offense from those new faces. The NBA betting odds have them installed as 6.5-point home underdogs.

Check out our free NBA picks and predictions for Timberwolves at Pacers on February 13.

Timberwolves vs Pacers odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

Minnesota opened as low as -6 and is bouncing between that line and -6.5, depending on the sportsbook. The total hit the board at 235.5 points last night and jumped to as high as 237 on Sunday morning, with some shops dealing 236 O/U.

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 Pacers predictions

• Prediction: Minnesota -6.5 (-110)
• Prediction: Over 236 (-110)
• Best bet: Towns Over 24.5 points (-114)

Predictions made on 2/13/2022 at 9:20 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Timberwolves vs Pacers game info

• Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
• Date: Sunday, February 13, 2022
• Tip-off: 3:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports North, Bally Sports Indiana 

Timberwolves vs Pacers betting preview

Key injuries

Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards G (Questionable), McKinley Wright G (Out).
Pacers: Malcolm Brogdon G (Questionable), Myles Turner F (Out), T.J. Warren G (Out), T.J. McConnell G (Out), Isaiah Jackson C (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

Minnesota is 23-7 Over/Under on the road this season and has played Over the total in 38 of their last 55 away games going back to last season. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Pacers.

Timberwolves vs Pacers 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

Indiana’s recent additions helped spark the offense early into Friday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but those buckets didn’t last long. The Pacers, who erupted for 47 points in the first quarter, mustered only 39 total points in the final 24 minutes on 33% shooting in the second half. A sudden power outage like that will cost Indiana dearly against the likes of the T-Wolves.

Minnesota enters Sunday on a two-game hiccup after winning five in a row to start the month. The Timberwolves are among the highest-scoring clubs in the NBA, ranked No. 11 in offensive rating and pushing the third-fastest pace in the league (100.74) with a smaller lineup anchored by Karl-Anthony Towns in the middle.

The Pacers are down some big bodies around the basket, with Myles Turner still sidelined with a foot injury and fellow center Isaiah Jackson leaving Friday’s game with a sore ankle. Indiana also sent versatile big Domantas Sabonis, their leading rebounder, to Sacramento at the deadline, leaving the frontcourt to lean on Goga Bitadze and Tristan Thompson inside.

On the season, the Pacers struggle versus big men, allowing an average of 26.8 points per game to the position (24th) on 47% shooting, and now face one of the premier post players in the world.

The status of Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon is one to watch, as he’s listed as questionable after missing 12 games with an Achilles injury. With plenty of new guys to work into the offense, Brogdon is the glue that could bind them. However, don’t hold your breath, as rumors swirl that Indiana doesn’t have long-term plans around Brogdon, with focus on Tyrese Haliburton as their future floor general. There may be no rush to get Brogdon back in action, especially with something as touchy as an Achilles ailment.

Prediction: Minnesota -6.5 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

It’s a small sample size, but the Pacers did appear to live up to their name in Friday’s loss to Cleveland. With a revamped lineup running small, Indiana’s tempo ticked up to 99.0 compared to 97.5 on the season – and that came against one of the most methodical teams in the NBA (Cleveland sits 25th in pace rating).

Indiana scored 21 fastbreak points – a stark contrast to its average of 12.6 fastbreak points per outing – and launched 38 3-point attempts. That sudden shift in tempo will get a shot of jet fuel as the Pacers switch gears from the Cavs to the T-Wolves, who push pace and don’t push back much on defense, especially on the road.

Minnesota gave up tallies of 134 and 132 points in road losses at Chicago and Sacramento, and own a 114.5 defensive rating in the role of visitors – hemorrhaging an average of 117.1 points away from home (second-worst in the NBA). 

The Timberwolves boast an overall 34-22 Over/Under record on the season, with the bulk of those Over paydays coming when Minnesota hits the highway, with a 23-7 O/U count as a visitor.  

Prediction: Over 236 (-110)

Best bet

As mentioned, the Pacers are “short” staffed for today’s matchup with Minnesota monster Karl-Anthony Towns. 

Sportsbooks have KAT’s point prop total at a modest 24.5 for Sunday’s matinee. Towns is averaging just under 24 points this month but is coming off a 27-point performance versus Chicago and could have his way inside at Indiana, with the Pacers allowing 49.9 points in the paint per outing (25th). 

Towns dropped 32 points on the Pacers back in late November and will have much more room to operate this time around, also winning the battle on the board for putbacks. The T-Wolves are among the top offensive rebounding clubs, thanks in part to KAT’s work on the glass. And with Anthony Edwards' (22.1 ppg) status up in the air, Minnesota may lean on Towns even more to pick up the slack on the offensive end.

Say what you want about the legitimacy of his Wordle skills, but don’t miss out on Towns’ points prop today. Hell, tie it into your Super Bowl bets: What will be higher: Towns’ points + rebounds (+1) or Joe Burrow’s pass attempts (-1)?

Pick: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 24.5 points (-114)

Pages related to this topic