The second round of the NBA playoffs has been wild! It started off with seven consecutive upsets before the Thunder dominated the Nuggets in Game 2 of their series last night.
Meanwhile, tonight’s game will be between the Warriors and Timberwolves. Despite Stephen Curry’s injury, Golden State pulled off an enormous upset in Game 1 of this series. Curry strained his hamstring and won’t be available until a potential Game 6 or Game 7. Therefore, the Timberwolves can’t really afford to lose tonight’s game and head to Golden State for Games 3 and 4 down two.
Let’s take a closer look at tonight’s game before betting on it at our top-rated sportsbooks.Â
Picks Summary:
- Warriors +10.5 (-105)
- Over 201 (-110)
- Julius Randle Under 6.5 Rebounds (+114)Â
*All odds from Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)
Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Thursday, May 08, 2025 – 08:30 PM EDT at Target Center
The AI Model agrees that Timberwolves will win tonight, 106-96. However, the Warriors are +10.5 against the spread and would still cover in this scenario. In addition, the total for tonight’s game is currently at 201. The AI Model has projected we’ll get 202 points in this game, so the Over also has some value in this game.
Finally, the AI Model thinks Julius Randle will add 5.721 rebounds tonight. The Timberwolves forward has a prop of 6.5, with the Under at +114. That’s a steal according to our Model.
No Steph Curry, No Problem?
The Warriors lost Stephen Curry to a hamstring strain in the first half of the first game of this series. Curry is a legend and has led the Warriors to multiple championships. However, he won’t be available for a large chunk of this series.
The Warriors are obviously disappointed, but Golden State still believes it’ll be fine. After all, the Warriors have Jimmy Butler, who has led multiple teams to the NBA Finals in his career. Beyond that, Draymond Green vowed not to get kicked out of any game and is starting to percolate.
Green scored 18 points on 6-for-13 from the floor against Minnesota in Game 1. He also delivered 8 rebounds and 6 assists, while hitting 4 threes in the win. Green, Butler and Buddy Hield are the three players who will likely step up in Curry’s absence.
That said, the Warriors have only scored 112.4 points per 100 possessions. They surely haven’t been in sync offensively throughout the playoffs. They’ll still need to win this game with defense.
Minnesota Isn’t Shooting Well!
The Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t shot the ball in the playoffs. They’ve scored 114.4 points per 100 possessions, but have also knocked down a 49.8% effective field goal percentage. Minnesota is good at limiting turnovers and should dominate the offensive glass.
However, if Minnesota continues to shoot below a 50% effective field goal percentage, it will be a struggle. After all, Minnesota hit only 39.5% from the field at home in Game 1. The Timberwolves also shot just 17.2% from downtown, hitting 5-of-29 from long range in that game.
They will have trouble pulling away from the Warriors shooting like that. However, the good news is that the Timberwolves have gained nearly 35% of offensive rebounds, while the Warriors have allowed nearly 35% of offensive rebounds. The Timberwolves will get many second chances, which will help them score enough points to help push this game over the total.
Randle Isn’t Aggressive On The Glass Right Now!
Julius Randle has added no more than 5 rebounds in five of his last six games. He’s hit at least 7 rebounds in just four of his last ten games and 35% of his previous 20 games.
After all, the Warriors rank 6th in the NBA in rebounds allowed to power forwards. Golden State is typically good at limiting power forwards on the defensive glass. Plus, without Curry on the floor, the Warriors will be bigger and more physical on the defensive end.
Over the last six games, Randle has had only one game with more than 12 rebound chances. This is below his typical average and something to look at. Randle isn’t getting a high rate of opportunities on the glass right now. Consider his Under to finish off tonight’s plays.
The Pick
I found three best bets for tonight’s game using the AI Model. You can consider playing them as singles or even potentially use a same-game parlay with these three bets!
- Warriors +10.5 (-105)
- Over 201 (-110)
- Julius Randle Under 6.5 Rebounds (+114)Â
*All odds from Caesars Sportsbook
*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-Gambler
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
