Wolves Look To Stay Alive, Visit Mavs
Minnesota’s Nikola Pekovic is expected to miss Wednesday’s game against the Mavericks.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will look to keep their slim playoff hopes alive Wednesday as they travel to Texas to face the Dallas Mavericks.
Tip-off at American Airlines Center is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.
After picking up a narrow in over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, Minnesota (33-32, 14-19 road) remains in 10th place in the Western Conference and still has a glimmer of hope to make the postseason.
The Timberwolves sit 5.5 games back of the Memphis Grizzlies, currently occupying the eighth and final playoff berth. The two are separated by the Phoenix Suns, a side which, with a 5-8 record since late February, is trending downwards fast.
If Kevin Love and Co. is to reach the postseason, they’ll need to successfully navigate the final 17 games of the season and hope for some help from elsewhere.
The Timberwolves can do themselves a lot of favors Wednesday by picking up a win against one of the sides they’re looking to potentially replace in the playoff race.
Dallas (41-27, 22-10 home) currently occupies the No. 7 seed and, alongside the Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors, is looking to secure one of the lower berths.
In the first of eight straight games at home, the Mavericks squeaked by the Boston Celtics on Monday, picking up a 94-89 win in a game that could easily have gone the other way. Shawn Marion and Devin Harris came up big for the home side, who sent the Celtics away winless against Western Conference opponents on the road this year.
After spoiling St. Patrick’s Day for the C’s, the Mavericks have picked up three straight victories; have won five of the last six; and have gone 15-6 since January 31. It’s this sort of form that has Dirk Nowitzki and Co. looking like the favorite to secure a trip to the postseason at the bottom of the West.
It’s also the sort of form the Wolves will need if they’re to gain any ground.
Minnesota has had success against Dallas this season, picking up a pair of November wins over the Mavericks, including a November 30 win at American Airlines Center.
The Mavericks responded with a 100-98 win the last time the two sides met (Dec. 30), but have lost three of the last four home games against the Wolves.
Minnesota center Nikola Pekovic missed Sunday’s game against the Kings with an ankle injury. He’s unlikely to appear in Wednesday night’s game, or Thursday’s road game against the Houston Rockets.
Gorgui Dieng, the rookie center out of Louisville, made for a suitable replacement in his first start for the Wolves on Sunday. The 2013 Big East Defensive Player of the Year tallied 12 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks in 37 minutes against the Kings, all career highs. He’ll likely start again on Wednesday night.
Ronny Turiaf (knee) is also out for Minnesota.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks odds for 03/19/2014
The Mavericks (-200) opened as the favorite over Minnesota (+180) on the moneyline.
Rick Carlisle’s side has picked up wins in seven of its last nine at American Airlines Center and has gone 11-4 against the Wolves in the building. But the Wolves have gotten the better of things recently, winning on three of their last four visits.
The spread opened at 6 and has subsequently slipped to 5.
Minnesota (32-33-0 ATS) hasn’t fared as well as Dallas (37-30-0 ATS) against the spread this season, and have failed to cover in four straight and six of the last seven. But the Wolves may have the advantage in this one.
The Timberwolves – who have been better against the spread on the road than at home this season – are 12-2-0 ATS in their last 14 visits to American Airlines Center. That’s a trend you’ll want to keep in mind.
Minnesota is 2-1-0 ATS against Dallas this season.
The over/under opened at 211.5 and has dropped to 210.
Minnesota (28-33-4) has favored the under this season, while Dallas (36-32-0) has favored the over.
The total has gone under in four of Minnesota’s last five, and six of Dallas’ last 10. The previous meetings between the two sides saw the total go under.
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