Clippers vs Timberwolves Predictions & Picks - No Edwards, No Shootout
- Under 222.5 points is tipped for Clippers vs Timberwolves.
- Both teams are missing key scorers and have struggled to score recently.
- Three of their last four meetings stayed under this total.
By Ryan Tucker • Sports Editor & Betting Analyst
Sports Tipster & Betting Model Expert
Fact Checked by: Leigh Copson•Updated:
Clippers vs Timberwolves Expert Predictions & Picks
It's not often I bet unders but tonight Darius Garland under 24.5 points is my player prop and I'm taking the Under 222.5 when the Clippers visit Minnesota on Friday, Oct. 30, at 8:00 p.m. ET in an NBA Cup group game.
Minnesota without Edwards is a different team. He's averaging 33.2 points and is out after knee surgery, and the Timberwolves scored 114 in a loss to Golden State on Wednesday without him.
The Clippers can't make up the difference. They rank 27th in offensive rating, they're turning it over 23.5 times a game, and they scored 101 and 87 in their last two games. Three of their four games stayed under this total.
Garland is carrying a team missing Brandon Ingram, Bradley Beal and Max Strus. He scored 16 and 14 in his last two games, and he went 16, 22 and 21 against Minnesota last season.
Key Stats
- The Clippers are averaging 106.5 points a game
- Minnesota ranks third in defensive rating and is allowing 107.8 points a game
- Three of the four meetings last season stayed under 222.5
- Garland scored under 25 points in all three games against Minnesota last season
Head to Head
The teams split four games last season, and the totals were 215, 211, 182 and 281. The outlier was a 153-128 shootout in Los Angeles. In Minnesota, the scores were 109-106 and 115-96, both well short of this number.
LA Clippers Form
The injury list explains the offense. Ingram (Achilles), Beal (knee), Strus (foot), Jordan Miller and Yanic Konan Niederhauser are out, and Rui Hachimura is a game-time call with a sore quad.
The defense is holding up, ranking seventh, but the turnovers are brutal. They've coughed it up 18, 26, 26 and 24 times.
Minnesota Timberwolves Form
Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo are out. The defense is still elite, but the scoring has to come from LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr., none of whom averages more than 15.8 points.
Minnesota is also grabbing 64 rebounds a game, which limits second chances for a team that already can't shoot straight. The Wolves play in San Antonio tomorrow, and the risk to the Under is a sloppy game full of turnovers in transition.
Verdict
Take away a 33-point scorer, add a Clippers offense ranked 27th, and this total should come in low. I'll take the Under and fade Garland's line.
Ryan Tucker
Sports Editor & Betting Analyst • Sports Tipster & Betting Model Expert
Ryan is a sports content writer and editor, producing insights and analysis for major sports including NFL, NHL, NBA and more.
Born in Australia, multiple trips to North America deepened his love for the four major US sports and a continuing dream to catch as much live action as possible.
Stats and data analysis has now outgrown the hobby tag and the countless models and simulations are now being put to good use writing previews and predictions for all major sporting events across basketball, ice hockey, baseball, football and Australian sports that are still close to his heart.