Minnesota is 28-16 and seeded fourth in the West while Portland is 22-20 and seeded sixth.  The Timberwolves are beginning to play with more consistency as Jimmy Butler is providing the leadership anticipated from him after coming over from Chicago in the offseason, allowing the surrounding young talent to develop, especially Karl-Anthony Towns who is emerging as one of the NBA’s elite big men.  Portland’s season has been disappointing thus far and star Damian Lillard continues to battle nagging injuries.  He's misses a number of games in recent weeks although he has played, and played well, in the Blazers' last 2, both loses, at Houston and New Orleans.  Minnesota won their previous meeting this season, also played here, by a single point in mid December.  Scheduling dynamics favor the hosts who are in the last game of a 5 game homestand while the Blazers in the final game of a 4 game road trip.  Both teams are rested after having last played on Friday.  Minnesota has won 3 straight, 6 of 8 and 11 of 14 dating back to mid December., going 9-5 ATS in this stretch.  They've won 7 straight at home and have covered each of the last 5 wins, winning each by double digits.

01/14/2018 8:44 AM