PORTLAND vs MINNESOTA 11/16/2018 Odds, Picks & Preview

The PORTLAND and the MINNESOTA will both be gunning for a victory on 11/16/2018 at 8:05 PM when they meet in a game matchup.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS vs MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
When: 8:00 PM  ET, Friday, November 16, 2018
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV: 8:05 PM
LINE: 1.5
PREDICTION: MINNESOTA , PORTLAND

Oddsmakers currently have the MINNESOTA listed as 1.5 point favorites versus the PORTLAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 222.

Jimmy Butler has been traded and suddenly the Minnesota Timberwolves look like a team again. Minnesota strives to earn its third straight victory since Butler was shipped to the Philadelphia 76ers when it hosts the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.

Center Karl-Anthony Towns (25 points, 16 rebounds) and small forward Andrew Wiggins (23 points) both had strong games as the Timberwolves posted a 107-100 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. “We were just playing together,” Towns told reporters. “We did a great job getting the ball around, getting everyone involved. It was just about having fun and playing with love and enthusiasm.” Portland will be looking to rebound after it fell 126-117 to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday to see a four-game winning streak reach an end. The setback occurred in the opener of a six-game road trip that concludes against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 23.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Northwest (Portland), FS North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (10-4): Star guard Damian Lillard is nursing a sore right knee but played 38 minutes against the Lakers and collected 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. Lillard has 23 assists over the past two games while recording back-to-back double-doubles and has tallied 25 or more points on nine occasions in another strong start. Center Jusuf Nurkic averaged 19.5 points and 15.5 rebounds while recording two straight double-doubles and has seven on the campaign.

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (6-9): Forwards Robert Covington (13 points) and Dario Saric (nine) made their team debuts on Wednesday after being acquired in the Butler deal along with injured guard Jerryd Bayless (knee). Covington was in the starting lineup while Saric came off the bench and Minnesota will study their games to see where they best fit. “The last few days feel very short to me, but at the end of the day, this is basketball,” Saric told reporters after the win. “It was very pleasurable to be on the court. We played team basketball. I think we had 29 assists — that’s a pretty good number. It’s just the beginning. I hope we still continue to play like this every game.”

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Trail Blazers won the past three meetings, including a 111-81 victory on Nov. 4.

2. Minnesota G Derrick Rose (knee) is expected back after a one-game absence.

3. Portland SG Seth Curry (knee) departed Wednesday’s contest and is questionable to play against Minnesota.

PREDICTION: Timberwolves 119, Trail Blazers 113

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