Clippers vs Timberwolves Prediction, Picks, and Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a tough spot both on and off the court. Anthony Edwards has called out his team's soft mentality and now they must regroup against a Clippers side playing decent basketball. Find out why Kenny Ducey is backing LAC to keep it close tonight.

Kenny Ducey - Betting Analyst at Covers
Kenny Ducey • Betting Analyst
Nov 29, 2024 • 16:35 ET • 4 min read
Information icon

This article contains predictions for an old game!

Latest NBA Picks
James Harden Los Angeles Clippers NBA
Photo By - Imagn Images.

We’ll be treated to a pivotal game in the NBA Cup on Friday when the Los Angeles Clippers visit the Minnesota Timberwolves with a spot in the knockout round potentially on the line.

Minnesota will need a win — and a sizable one — to improve to 2-2 in cup play and get its point differential in a good spot while L.A. will hope to move to 2-1 in what should be Norman Powell’s return to the lineup.

My Clippers vs. Timberwolves predictions believe the Clippers are in a good spot to keep this game close on November 30. 

Clippers vs Timberwolves prediction

My best bet
Clippers +6 (-110 at bet365)

My analysis
The impact of Norman Powell can’t be understated. He’s led the Los Angeles Clippers in scoring, and he’s buoyed this team by around eight points per 100 possessions offensively.

We’re expecting Powell back in this one, and even if he plays 20-25 minutes as L.A. eases him back into action his return should be more than enough to put the Clippers in an excellent position against the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves.

Minnesota’s other-worldly offense simply hasn’t been the same ever since bringing in Julius Randle in a trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to New York, ranking just 13th in efficiency. It currently sits right in the middle of the league in 3-point shooting despite taking a ton of shots from deep, and that should make things very difficult considering the Clippers rank fifth in defending the 3.

Defensively, too, the Timberwolves will be up against it here considering the Clippers have been one of the best teams in the mid-range, which is an area that they’ve been one of the worst in the league at defending.

Minnesota’s certainly due for a win at some point, coming in on a four-game losing streak, but we can’t look past some of the issues mounting for this team — particularly late in games. The offense has failed to score when needed, and this Clippers team has been playing lights-out in the last two weeks and should have the tools to compete for the duration of this one.

With a sizable edge on the glass and the ability to score from the mid-range and shut down Minnesota’s outside attack, I’m comfortable taking the points in what could be yet another statement win for the surging Clippers.

Clippers vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

Clippers +6

James Harden Over 5.5 rebounds

Derrick Jones Jr. Over 8.5 points

I alluded to the Clippers’ edge on the glass above, but let’s lay out just how sizable it is. Minnesota is down in 19th with a 49.3% rebounding rate, while L.A. sits third in the NBA, and the Timberwolves have had a particularly hard time containing opposing guards on the glass with over 15 rebounds allowed per game.

James Harden has had a great year in this department, averaging over seven boards per game, and he’s recorded six or more in nine of his last 11 games. On top of that, he’s seen an uptick in rebounding rate with Powell on the floor, so in a soft matchup he should be able to cash this leg for us.

I’m also going to back one of the most frequent mid-range shooters in the NBA, and one of the leaders on this team, by going with Derrick Jones, Jr. to score nine or more points. He should draw some poor defense from Randle here and with Powell on the floor to take away some of the focus I’m confident he’ll hit this number for a fourth time in five games.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout

Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!

Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Clippers vs Timberwolves odds

Clippers vs Timberwolves live odds

Clippers vs Timberwolves opening odds

  • Spread: Los Angeles 5.5 | Minnesota -5.5
  • Moneyline: Los Angeles +190 | Minnesota -230
  • Over/Under: Over 213 | Under 213

Odds courtesy of bet365

Clippers vs Timberwolves spread and Over/Under analysis

  • The Clippers received some early love with the line moving up to five points before diving back to six points on Friday afternoon.
  • A slight 57% of the spread bets and 59% of the money are on the Clippers.
  • The total was initially bouncing around between 217.5 and 216.5 before taking a nose-dive, currently sitting over four points lower than where it was at open.
  • The Over has accounted for 84% of the tickets and 72% of the handle.

Clippers vs Timberwolves trend

The LA Clippers have hit the Moneyline in 29 of their last 43 away games (+23.40 Units / 23% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Clippers vs Timberwolves

Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Date: Friday, 11-29-2024
Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN

Clippers vs Timberwolves latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

Pages related to this topic

Kenny Ducey - Covers
Betting Analyst

Kenny Ducey has worked in sports media for more than 10 years and began his journey as a credentialed reporter with Fordham University's WFUV Sports before moving on to Sports Illustrated. There, he wrote about baseball, basketball, and tennis - twice covering the NBA Finals.

He's been in the betting space for seven years, and has established himself as a top expert in MLB and tennis handicapping with brands like Tennis Channel, NBC Sports, and DraftKings. He's also been a frequent guest on betting shows such as MLB's Bettor's Eye and Tennis Bets Live.

Kenny has a knack for identifying underappreciated pitchers and tennis players as moneyline underdogs and credits his unique data analysis and hours of watching sports as the biggest reasons for success through the years. His best advice to bettors? Watch the games, trust your eye, and always question the public narrative.

Recent Picks

Popular Content

Legal Canadian sports betting

Best Canadian betting sites Ontario sports betting
Covers is verified safe by: Evalon Logo GPWA Logo GDPR Logo GeoTrust Logo Evalon Logo