New Orleans Pelicans vs Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction, 5/1/2021 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: New Orleans Pelicans vs Minnesota Timberwolves

Date: Saturday, May 1, 2021

Location: Target Center in Minneapolis, MN

TV: Bally Sports New Orleans

Odds/Point Spread: New Orleans (-4)

The Minnesota Timberwolves (20-44) host the New Orleans Pelicans (28-35) at Target Center on Saturday. The line on this contest has New Orleans as 4-point favorites. The over/under opens at 235.5.

The New Orleans Pelicans played the Oklahoma City Thunder and earned the victory with a final of 109-95 in their last game. New Orleans wrapped up the contest having earned a 44.6% FG percentage (45 of 101) and buried 5 out of their 29 3-point shots. From the charity stripe, the Pelicans made 14 of 19 shots for a percentage of 73.7%. Pertaining to grabbing rebounds, they earned 56 with 15 of them being offensive. They also recorded 26 dimes in this matchup while forcing 22 turnovers and earning 11 steals. When it comes to defense, New Orleans allowed their opponent to shoot 38.2% from the floor on 34 out of 89 shooting. Oklahoma City recorded 18 assists and had 6 steals for the matchup. Additionally, Oklahoma City grabbed 53 boards (12 offensive, 41 defensive) and added 6 rejections. Oklahoma City ended up shooting 80.0% at the free throw line by making 16 of 20 attempts. They also knocked down 11 of their 39 shots from three-point range.

Zion Williamson is a guy who was a contributor in this matchup. He had 27 points on 12 of 24 shooting. He played 34:13 minutes played and also totaled 8 rebounds. Williamson went 50.0% from the field and also recorded 6 assists. An additional guy that was a determining factor in the game for the Pelicans was Brandon Ingram. He collected 6 rebounds in 30:47 min on the court. He finished the game at 50.0% from the floor for this contest by shooting 10-of-20 (24 points). When the final whistle blew, Ingram accounted for 3 assists.

New Orleans heads into this matchup with a win-loss mark of 28-35 this season. They lose possession by turning the ball over 14.6 times per game and as a team they are committing 18.1 fouls per game. As a team, New Orleans is snagging 47.0 rebounds per game and is sitting with 1,644 dimes for the year, which is 8th in the league in terms of passing the rock. The Pelicans are shooting 35.0% on shots from 3-point land (673 of 1,923) and 73.3% from the free throw line. They currently have an average of 114.9 pts per game (6th in basketball) while going 48.2% from the field. When they are on defense, the Pelicans are forcing 13.2 turnovers per game while drawing 21.3 fouls. They currently rank 26th in basketball in allowing assists to the opposition with 1,614 conceded on the season. The Pelicans are giving up a field goal percentage of 46.9% (834 of 1,340) and they concede 41.1 rebounds per game as a squad. They relinquish 38.3% on 3-pointers and they are 23rd in the league in points per game allowed (114.5).

When they last played, the Minnesota Timberwolves took home the win by a final score of 126-114 against the Golden State Warriors. The Timberwolves recorded 41 defensive boards and 16 offensive rebounds totaling 57 in the matchup. They also gave up possession of the ball 13 times, while recording 5 steals in this game. The Warriors were called for 21 fouls in this matchup which took the Timberwolves to the free throw line for a total of 29 attempts. They were able to bury 20 of the free throws for a rate of 69.0%. Pertaining to shooting from downtown, Minnesota converted 20 out of 41 tries (48.8%). When all was said and done, the Timberwolves finished the game shooting 43 for 94 from the field which had them shooting 45.7%. The Timberwolves permitted the Warriors to make 42 of 85 tries from the floor which gave them a rate of 49.4% in this game. They shot 39.5% from behind the 3-point line by shooting 15 out of 38 and ended up going 15 of 21 at the charity stripe (71.4%). In regard to how they attacked the glass, Minnesota allowed Golden State to get 34 overall (4 offensive).

Ricky Rubio ended up being important for the Timberwolves in the game. He converted 7 of 13 in the game for a field goal percentage of 53.8%, and accounted for 6 rebounds. Rubio earned 26 points in his 31:18 minutes of playing time and totaled 6 assists in this matchup. Someone else who came through for Minnesota was Anthony Edwards. He finished with 3 dimes in his 34:30 mins on the court, and he shot 10 out of 19 from the floor. Edwards ended up shooting 52.6% from the floor and also contributing 25 points and 5 boards.

Minnesota has a mark of 20-44 for the season. Minnesota has totaled 7,096 points this year (110.9 per game) and they grab 43.2 rebounds per contest. The Timberwolves commit 20.8 fouls every game and they hit 76.6% from the free throw line. As an offensive team, the Timberwolves are hitting on 44.5% from the floor, which is ranked 27th in the NBA. They are dishing out assists 25.2 times per contest (13th in the NBA) and they cough up possession 14.3 times per game. The Timberwolves on the defensive side of the court are 28th in the league in PPG allowed with 117.5. They are able to force 15.1 TO's per game and have allowed teams to shoot 48.2% from the floor (29th in the NBA). The Minnesota defense surrenders 39.2% on shots from behind the 3-point line (839 of 2,140) and their opposition knocks down 79.0% of their shots from the free throw line. They have surrendered 26.7 assists and 45.9 rebounds every game, which ranks them 29th and 23rd in basketball.

Who will win tonight's NBA game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Minnesota (+4)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here