🏀 New Orleans vs. Minnesota Preview and Prediction - 1/7/25 👀
A new Ant-man in New Orleans
Years after their beloved Anthony spurned them for the Lakers, another Anthony will be visiting New Orleans in a Minnesota uniform after hitting a clutch 3 to ice the game last night at home against the Clippers. NOLA is looking to maintain some confidence after earning a rare victory this season in the nation’s capital.
An up and down season has plagued the Minnesota Timberwolves, after an amazing season a year ago and some major offseason moves that looked to take this team from championship contender to champion. While everyone has struggled to gel in various ways, the most notable has been the unhappiness of star Anthony Edwards, who has become increasingly vocal both on and off the court about the way teams are defending him and his perceived lack of officiating generosity. As a team, a team known for their defense a year ago has seen stretches where they rank near the bottom in defensive efficiency (over the holidays, for example), and stretches where that dominance has returned. There has been very little predictability with Minnesota thus far, and it has produced some high highs and some very low lows.
One thing that has been predictable, however, is the poor play of the Pelicans. The boys in NOLA have had a miserable season thus far, with only 7 wins, two of which have come in the last two games against a team that is fighting with them for the crown of futility, the Wizards. Injuries and discontent is the story here, with star Zion Williamson once again missing a large chunk of the season, Brandon Ingram out for most of the year, and role players consistently missing time at various points. The recent form of CJ McCollum has been a bright spot lately, and he has scored at least 30 points in 3 of their last 5 games, including a 50 spot in an epic and emotional performance for the home crowd on Friday.
No injury concerns for the T-wolves here, they are ready to go even if they are a little tired from last night. The Pelicans injury woes continue, as Brandon Ingram and Trey Murphy are ruled out alongside Zion. Dejounte Murray is also listed as questionable, which would be a major blow to the home team’s chances.
The Owl predicts:
Minnesota 114 New Orleans 98
New Orleans is feeling a brief moment of optimism on the heels of back-to-back victories, but Minnesota is the far superior team and should handle business on the road even with no rest. Minnesota is 3-1 this season ATS on the 2nd game of a back-to-back, and New Orleans is abysmal ATS in nearly every measurable way. Minnesota will look to clamp down on the defensive end and suffocate the Pelicans into submission.
Consensus odds currently:
Min - 4.5 O/U 222.5