Memphis Grizzlies vs Minnesota Timberwolves: NBA Playoff Picks, Predictions, and Odds: Game 1

The Memphis Grizzlies will look to prove that they’re a legit candidate out of the Western Conference when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves for an exciting first-round series. Needless to say, landing the first punch in Game 1 will be key for their aspirations. Who’ll win? Let’s find out!

The Memphis Grizzlies didn’t even need Ja Morant to close out the season in a big fashion. They’re 56-25 SU and 52-29-1 ATS and one-upped the Golden State Warriors for the second seed in the Western Conference. Despite their youth, they’re far ahead of schedule in terms of their development and will never go down without a fight.

Jaren Jackson Jr. should get plenty of votes for Defensive Player of the Year. Taylor Jenkins’ squad inherited the ‘Grit and Grind’ identity from the Mike Conley era, adding an explosive offense that will look to push the pace up every single possession.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, on the other hand, put an end to a four-year NBA playoff drought after knocking down the Los Angeles Clippers in the play-in game. They flirted with playoff contention for most of the year and are playing like a team with nothing to lose.

The Timberwolves finished the season with a 47-36 SU record while going 42-38-2 ATS. Some think they have enough firepower to pull off the massive upset in the first round, so this Grizzlies vs Timberwolves series sure promises to be one for the ages.

Memphis Grizzlies vs Minnesota Timberwolves Game Info

Date/Time: Saturday, April 15, 2022, 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: TSN1, ESPN
Location: FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis Grizzlies vs Minnesota Timberwolves Odd Analysis

The Grizzlies enter this matchup as 6.5-point favorites on BetMGM. This shouldn’t come as a surprise considering that they’ve beaten the Timberwolves eight out of the last 10 times, including their last two meetings at FedEx Forum.

Also, the game total for this matchup is set at 234.5 points, which makes sense given both teams’ offensive prowess. The Timberwolves run the fastest offense in the league, with the Grizzlies two steps below them in terms of pace.

Memphis Grizzlies vs Minnesota Timberwolves Picks

This series will feature plenty of lead changes, trash-talking, and maybe even a couple of technical fouls per game. Here, we share our picks and predictions for this matchup. Also, don’t forget to visit our special NBA picks page for more expert picks for the NBA playoffs!

Timberwolves Lose But Still Cover The 6.5 @-110 (Odds via BetMGM)

The Timberwolves didn’t finish the season strong, going just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games. Then again, they’re coming off their biggest, most emotional win of the season and it came in a game where Karl-Anthony Towns wasn’t even a factor.

Anthony Edwards is a star in the making and people continue to sleep on D’Angelo Russell’s ability to put up points on the board. Also, Patrick Beverley’s pesky defense promises to frustrate Ja Morant early in the game at the very least.

The Grizzlies are one of the best home teams in the league, going 30-11 straight-up and 27-14 against the spread at FedEx Forum. They’re the better team and we still expect them to scrape their way to a win, but it will be as close as it gets.

All things considered and judging by their last meeting (a 119-114 Minnesota win in Minneapolis), we like the Timberwolves to cover the spread in a game that’ll be decided by one possession. Here, we let you know where to watch this game.

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Grizzlies And Timberwolves Go Over The 234.5 Total @-110 (Odds via FanDuel)

These teams love to run. Ja Morant is one of the fastest point guards in the league and a one-man fast-break in the open court every time he gets the rock on his hands. The same can be said of the Timberwolves’ up-tempo offense.

Those are two of the best offensive rebounding teams in the league (1st and 6th), while also ranking 6th and 7th in assists per game. They like to share the wealth, get everybody involved, and run up and down the court for the full 48 minutes. This will be a shootout between two offensive-minded squads.

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Our Bonus Player Prop Pick: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 37.5 Total Points, Rebounds, And Assists @-115 (Odds via FanDuel)

We think Karl-Anthony Towns is ready to put his dud against the Clippers in the past. He’s a walking double-double and should be inspired to take a step forward in the second playoff series of his career. He averaged nearly 25, 10, and 4 in the regular season, so we expect him to top this mark easily.

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