Clippers-Timberwolves Play-In Prediction, Prop Bets, TV Info

As with the Cavs vs. Nets matchup in the Eastern Conference, Tuesday night’s other NBA play-in tournament matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves features two teams that are in a position that many did not expect them to be in.

With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers were one of the leading NBA championship contenders over the previous two seasons, though they fell well short both times.

With Leonard sidelined by a torn ACL suffered in last year’s playoffs, the Clippers were expected to drop from the NBA’s upper echelon this season but still potentially contend for a playoff spot.

However, when George went down in December with a torn UCL in his right elbow, things looked pretty ominous.

But where the rival Lakers couldn’t even manage the mediocrity needed to remain in the right position in the NBA standings, the Clippers did, aided by George’s return late last month

Entering this season, the Timberwolves had only two winning seasons and one playoff berth since the 2003-04 season.

When they were 16-20 after losing to the Lakers on January 2, another long winter and spring looked likely. They then went 30-16 and are now on the cusp of the franchise’s first playoff berth since the 2017-18 season.

A road win over the Clippers on January 3 kickstarted their turnaround. A home win over the Clippers in this matchup will cap that remarkable turnaround with a ticket to the first round of the playoffs.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament Game Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Game Matchup: Los Angeles Clippers (42-40, 8th in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-36, 7th in the Western Conference)
• Venue & Location: Target Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
• Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2022
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• How to Watch the Clippers vs. Timberwolves Play-In Tournament Game: TNT

Clippers vs. Timberwolves Betting Odds

BetOnline Sportsbook

• Spread: Los Angeles Clippers +3 (-110), Minnesota Timberwolves -3 (-110)
• Total: OVER 230.5 (-108), UNDER 230.5 (-112)
• Moneyline: Los Angeles Clippers +130, Minnesota Timberwolves -154

Bovada Sportsbook

• Spread: Los Angeles Clippers +3 (-110), Minnesota Timberwolves -3 (-110)
• Total: OVER 230.5 (-110), UNDER 230.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Los Angeles Clippers +130, Minnesota Timberwolves -150

BetUS

• Spread: Los Angeles Clippers +3.5 (-109), Minnesota Timberwolves -3.5 (-112)
• Total: OVER 230.5 (-110), UNDER 230.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Los Angeles Clippers +132, Minnesota Timberwolves -157

Can Strong Home Form Carry the Timberwolves Over the Clippers and into the First Round?

In the previous two seasons, the Timberwolves didn’t win a lot of games overall, but home, where the wins should be if they are anywhere, was not a fruitful place for Minnesota at all.

That has changed this season, and it is a big reason why the Timberwolves are on the verge of returning to the playoffs. In fact, they have five more wins in 41 home games this season than they did in 68 home games across the previous two seasons.

Recent Home Records for the Minnesota Timberwolves

• 2019-20: 8-24
• 2020-21: 13-23
• 2021-22: 26-15

Getting the job done at the Target Center has been a big part of their three-month run of success. In that stretch, they are 16-5 at home. They did lose two of their final three home games, against the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls, but little needs to be read into those losses when it comes to predicting the outcome against the Clippers because they were already secure in the play-in.

Over the past three-plus months, Minnesota has beaten five of the West’s top six at home, with the fantastic Phoenix Suns the lone exception: Memphis, Golden State (twice), Dallas, Utah, and Denver.

In addition, they beat the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks at home in this stretch. And prior to this three-month stretch, the Timberwolves had already beaten the Grizzlies and Miami Heat at home.

When you can score like they have been, you are going to win more often than not, provided you aren’t horrifically bad defensively. The Timberwolves certainly aren’t great at that end of the court, but they have done enough to back up their scoring exploits more times than not.

In their first 36 games, Minnesota hit the 120-point mark only four times (11.1 percent). But starting with their 122-104 win over the Clippers on January 3, they scored 120+ points 27 times in 46 games (58.7 percent). In those games, they posted a sparkling 22-5 record, a win rate of 81.5 percent.

Clippers vs. Timberwolves Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction: Timberwolves 128, Clippers 123 (Best Bets: Timberwolves -3 & OVER 230.5)

Strong play at home is the horse that got the Timberwolves here, and it is the horse that is going to set up a first-round meeting with the Memphis Grizzlies, who are one of this season’s other great stories.

The Clippers enter the play-in tournament with five wins in a row, and they are 6-1 since George returned on March 29, losing only in overtime at Chicago. And they have done some scoring themselves, scoring 121, 130, 153, 119, 113, 117, and 138 points over their final seven games of the regular season.

They are certainly not the team that they would be were Kawhi in the lineup, but they have done well to get here considering their challenges this season. And even if they lose to Minnesota, they will be favored to see off the Pelicans or Spurs on Friday night.

How much are they likely to be favored by? Well, we’ll be able to find out. Sure, the Timberwolves are in an unfamiliar position as a team, while that isn’t so much the case for the Clippers.

But they aren’t supposed to be here anyway, so they aren’t going to play scared or tentatively, especially in front of a home crowd that has been waiting to see meaningful basketball at this time of year.

Best Prop Bets for Clippers vs. Timberwolves

Minnesota Timberwolves Team Total OVER 116.5 (-108 at BetOnline Sportsbook)

Since starting their turnaround in early January, the Timberwolves have scored 117 or more points at home 15 times (in 21 games). And in two of the six games in which they did not score 117+, they scored 116.