Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves Picks and Predictions: Dame Does Damage From Deep

Tonight will see two teams, the Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves, trying to stack some wins together as they've both been playing below expectations for this season. 

It's simple math for Portland. Give Damian Lillard the ball, and hope that he can secure you a victory. Minnesota has struggled to find its footing all season and views Portland as an opportunity to get a win early in the New Year. This one could turn into a shootout fast. 

Find out your best options with our free NBA betting picks and predictions for the Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves on Wednesday, January 4.

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves best odds

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves picks and predictions

It's always a scary proposition having to deal with the elite sharpshooting superstar Damian Lillard when your defense isn't well equipped to defend the perimeter.

Minnesota, which had great visions of pairing Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert together to form a dynamic tandem, hasn't panned out so far as Towns has been out of the lineup with injuries. Teams have had little issue scoring from all areas of the court against Minny's 14th-ranked defense in terms of rating. 

Lillard could be in for a big night from beyond the arc, as the Wolves allow opponents to score on 36.9% of their 3-point attempts — the fourth worst in the NBA. That's not a good sign against someone like Lillard who is a lethal shooter. For the season, the 33-year-old connects on 37% of his 3-point attempts.

Dame has been excellent against the Timberwolves throughout his career, averaging 25.2 points and connecting on 3.2 shots from behind the arc. Tonight should be another big game for the superstar if you believe in following recent history.

Last month, Lillard hit a magnificent 11 of 17 3-point attempts against Minnesota. The Timberwolves have few defensive stoppers to throw at Lillard in hopes of slowing him down, and he can comfortably get to any spot on the court against any of their guards or wings. 

Minnesota will likely have to throw multiple looks at Lillard, with everyone getting a chance to slow him down, but that certainly didn't have a significant effect the last time these two teams battled it out. In the previous matchup between the two teams, Lillard was comfortable finding his spots and connecting on three after three. Expect another "Dame Time" performance here.

My best bet: Damian Lillard Over 4.5 made threes (+112)

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves spread analysis

Tonight's matchup currently has a -1 advantage for the Trail Blazers. Both teams could be better, as Portland has lost five of its last 10 games, and Minnesota has only won four in that same timeframe.

Whenever two mediocre teams clash, I favor the more experienced and best player on the court, Lillard, in this case. As stated earlier, he's looking to duplicate one of his best performances of the season in his early December showcase against the Timberwolves, scoring 38 points in 29 minutes. Minnesota's chances of slowing him down tonight don't feel good. 

There are a few numbers to keep in mind tonight. The Wolves score 114.7 points per game. On average, Portland only allows opponents to score 112. When the Blazers hold teams under 114.7 points, they have a 16-6-1 against the spread record and are 17-6 overall.

Portland will lean on its star, Lillard, to cover the spread tonight.

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves Over/Under analysis

Neither the Timberwolves nor the Trail Blazers are a formidable team defensively. Tonight's Over/Under is set at 233, and even with a hefty line, it automatically has me thinking about the Over when you consider the offensive weapons on both teams. 

Minnesota, who isn't scaring anyone on the defensive side of the ball, does have the 13th-ranked scoring offense (114.7 points per game). As a result, it's been predictably hitting the Over a ton lately.

The Over is 5-1 in the Timberwolves'  last six games, so why should tonight be any different? Portland has three players combining for more than 72.4 points per game. A team such as Minnesota that doesn't possess enough players willing to get consistent stops will have a hard time defending Lillard, Anfernee Simons, and Jerami Grant. 

The number is high, but both teams have the offensive talent to make this one a track meet. Consider D'Angelo Russell a factor tonight, as he scored 23 or more in the two matchups against Portland this season.

Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

The Over is 6-1 in the Trail Blazers' last 7 games following an ATS win. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves.

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