MILWAUKEE @ MINNESOTA (MIN -4, 225)
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BUCKS VS. TIMBERWOLVES 2/23/24
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks will square off in their first games after the NBA All-Star break tonight in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves begin a seven-game homestand. With 27 games remaining in the regular season, the Timberwolves, with a 39-16 record, are leading the Western Conference and have high expectations.
Can the TWolves guarantee the top playoff seed? Is it possible for them to legitimately compete in the conference finals and beyond? Their play this season says so. Minnesota is the No. 1 defense in the NBA. They rank first in opponent field goal percentage and first in points allowed per game.
Milwaukee will likely put the Timberwolves to the test, but the Bucks are just 3-7 since Doc Rivers took over as coach. Milwaukee lost its last two games before All-Star weekend. However, a lengthy vacation might allow the team to turn things around as it also appears to be a title contender.
Milwaukee is led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who averages 30.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 6.4 assists. Teammate Damian Lillard averages 24.6 points and a team-high 6.7 assists per game. Lillard had a huge All-Star weekend, claiming the 3-point shooting contest crown and then the MVP of the All-Star Game. The 33-year-old, who finished the All-Star game with 39 points on 14-of-26 shooting, including 11-of-23 from beyond the arc. It was his first ever ASG MVP.
Karl-Anthony Towns, the big man for the Timberwolves, will also be back after an excellent All-Star weekend. In the All-Star Game, Towns had 50 points and played with teammate Anthony Edwards.
Edwards leads Minnesota in scoring this season with 26.3 points per game. Towns comes in second with 22.5 points, and Rudy Gobert is averaging 13.7 points and 12.5 rebounds.
Guard Mike Conley of the Timberwolves will be playing in his first game since accepting a two-year contract extension that is reportedly worth $11 million annually. Conley has been hailed by teammates and coaches as a valuable veteran presence in the locker room. He averages 10.6 points and 6.4 assists.
During the break, the Bucks added to their roster as well. They signed veteran forward Danilo Gallinari, who played for the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards this season, averaging 2.8 rebounds and 7.3 points. Gallinari has averaged 15.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in 760 career NBA games.
Minnesota has won four straight and five of its last six. The Bucks are 5-1 ATS in their last six games. Milwaukee struggles against the number, going 5-13 ATS in its last 18 games. The Bucks are also just 1-11 ATS in their last 12 road games.
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J.A. CAVALIER FREE PICK: TWOLVES -4
