Warriors vs Timberwolves Picks and Predictions: Back-to-Back Minny Falls Flat

Hard as it may be to believe, the Minnesota Timberwolves matter in March. If they want to prove themselves as genuine playoff concerns, beating the Golden State Warriors should do it.

Even if Golden State is currently without most of its biggest names, it is No. 2 in the West for a reason.

Here are our free NBA picks and predictions for the Warriors at the Timberwolves on March 1, with tip set for 8:00 ET.

Warriors vs Timberwolves odds

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

As of early Tuesday morning, this line can be found on both sides of zero, the Timberwolves ranging from 1-point favorites at some books to 1-point underdogs at others. The total opened at 231 at most books, falling to 230.5 at some by Tuesday’s sunrise.

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.

Warriors vs Timberwolves predictions

• Prediction: Warriors +1 (-110)
• Prediction: Over 230.5 (-110)
• Best bet: Warriors +1 (-110)

Predictions made on 3/1/2022 at 7:30 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Warriors vs Timberwolves game info

• Location: Targe Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Date: Tuesday, March 1, 2022
• Tip-off: 8:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports North, NBCS-Bay Area

Warriors vs Timberwolves betting preview

Key injuries

Warriors: Klay Thompson SG (Out), Draymond Green PF (Out), James Wiseman C (Out), Andre Iguodala SG (Out), Nemanja Bjelica PF (Questionable).
Timberwolves: No injuries to report.
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

Minnesota is 0-5 ATS in its last five games playing on no rest. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Timberwolves.

Warriors vs Timberwolves 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

Neither of these teams inspires much faith tonight, even if the Timberwolves won last night in Cleveland.

Frankly, that is part of the problem of wanting to back Minnesota tonight. The Wolves have been criminally bad on no rest, and they did not play well against the short-handed Cavaliers, in the first place.

But the worse look of late has been Golden State, who is 1-7-1 ATS in its last nine. That backslide has also included five straight-up losses in their last seven games.

In the next 48 hours, Golden State could fall to the No. 3 seed in the West, something rather unthinkable at the start of February, though also a testament to the play of Ja Morant and the Grizzlies of late.

Then why back the Warriors? Go back to those back-to-back troubles for Minnesota. A team that relies on forcing turnovers and transition offense is not well-made for playing without rest.

For example, the Timberwolves beat the surging Grizzlies on Thursday only to be walloped by the 76ers on Friday, falling short of covering by a mere 28.5 points.

Minnesota absolutely collapsed in that fourth quarter, an 18-point deficit ballooning to 31 in the final frame.

The Warriors may be struggling of late, at least relatively speaking, but the schedule did them a favor with this timing.

Prediction: Warriors +1 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

Minnesota’s defense has collapsed. There is nothing left. Some metrics will tell you the Timberwolves have the best offense of 2022, and that may well be the case, but it has been constantly undone by a woeful defense, one so ugly it coughed up a 23-point lead to a Cavaliers team missing nearly all its backcourt last night.

That combination alone should clue you into a surprisingly reasonable Over of 230.5, but let’s go further.

Seven of the Timberwolves’ last nine games have hit the Over, the exceptions bookending the All-Star break. Those Overs included some of the highest pregame totals of the entire NBA season.

The Warriors are not operating at warp speed or peak efficiency this season, but they are still the Warriors. No Under is safe.

Prediction: Over 230.5 (-110)

Best bet

To get ahead of an understandable accusation: This handicapper recently outed himself as a Wolves fan. No, this best bet is not an attempt at a reverse jinx. And it is more than deep-rooted insecurities inspired by years of disappointment.

It is a reflection of a Timberwolves’ weakness that has cost this team all season. Minnesota does not hold up on back-to-backs. When its legs start to lag, Steph Curry will make them pay.

One of the best defenses in the league will then make the Timberwolves struggle in the half-court, and momentum could quickly move to the visitors.

Pick: Warriors +1 (-110)

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