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The Minnesota Timberwolves will host last year’s NBA finalists, the Miami Heat, on Sunday at midnight GMT (Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET).
Anthony Edwards and Minnesota (0-1) are in search of their first win after falling 97-94 to Toronto on Wednesday. Bam Adebayo and Miami are 1-1 due to a 119-111 loss against Boston on Friday.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Miami Heat game predictions
Contents
The Wolves are four-point favorites, and the total is listed at 218.5.
Prediction 1: Karl-Anthony Towns over 7.5 rebounds @ -140 (1.71)
These odds of -140 (Bet365) are an excellent price thanks to other sportsbooks, such as FanDuel, listing Towns at -155 to record eight or more boards against the Heat.
The Kentucky product recorded 10 rebounds in the team’s opener against the Raptors and averaged 8.1 per game last season. During the 2022-2023 playoffs and final month (April) of the regular season, the 27-year-old averaged 10.2 rebounds (postseason) and 9.8.
Towns has also grabbed eight or more rebounds in 9 of his last 10 appearances with the Timberwolves in meaningful games (regular season and playoffs). Throughout that span, he’s averaged 10 per contest.
The 7-footer will line up against undersized Heat center Bam Adebayo (6-foot-9), who comes in with little rest after playing 35 minutes against the Celtics the night before.
Numberfire’s model is projecting Towns to play 35.2 minutes and record 8.6 rebounds versus Miami, while BettingPros predicts him to have around 8.7 rebounds.
Prediction 2: Mike Conley over 6.5 rebounds and assists @ -145 (1.69)
This pick also features ridiculous value for the odds at -145 on Bet365. Most sportsbooks feature Conley’s total at 7.5, and what’s even more astounding is Bovada’s prop builder, giving a line of -239 (70.5% implied odds) that he’ll have at least eight combined rebounds and assists.
The veteran recorded seven rebounds and assists in the team’s first game against the Raptors on Wednesday in 31 minutes. Last year, he averaged 9.4 combined rebounds and assists during the regular season and nine in the playoffs.
Conley has eclipsed the 6.5 mark in seven consecutive games and in eight of his past 10 games. Age is always a factor at 36, but he’s had two full nights of rest and faces 37-year-old Kyle Lowry, who played 32 minutes last night and 32 minutes on Wednesday.
Numberfire projects Conley to play about 31.7 minutes and dish out 6.4 assists as well as grab 2.8 boards (9.2 combined). BettingPros predicts the Ohio State product to have 7.5 rebounds and assists against the Heat.
These American and decimal odds were correct at the time of writing.
Timberwolves vs Heat preview – Will Minnesota win its first game?
Minnesota has playoff expectations after reaching the tournament last season and will attempt to defend their home court.
Minnesota news, injuries, and predicted starting lineup
The Timberwolves are 0-1 against the spread this campaign.
Wolves injury report
- PF Jaden McDaniels (calf) is questionable.
Minnesota predicted starting lineup:
Conley, Edwards, Alexander-Walker, Towns and Gobert
Miami news, injuries, and predicted starting lineup
The Heat are 1-1 ATS in 2023-2024.
Heat injury report
- Jimmy Butler (rest) is out.
- PF Kevin Love (shoulder) is out.
- SF Caleb Martin (knee) is out.
- SG Josh Richardson (foot) is out.
- F Haywood Highsmith (MCL sprain) is out.
Miami predicted starting lineup:
Lowry, Herro, Jaquez Jr., Jovic and Adebayo
Timberwolves vs Heat head-to-head record
The two franchises split the season series 1-1 in 2022-2023.
Key game details
- Date & Time: Sunday, Oct. 29th, 2023 at midnight GMT (Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET)
- Venue: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
- Where to watch the match in the UK: NBA TV, Sky Sports, BBC
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