Two perennial playoff contenders, the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves, are set to clash on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. Both teams hold a record of 10-8, though their recent trajectories differ, with Minnesota aiming to break a three-game losing streak, while Boston looks to secure its third consecutive victory.
The Timberwolves are spearheaded by Anthony Edwards, who has started the season strong and is coming off a series of impressive scoring performances. Conversely, the Celtics are facing challenges with the absence of their star forward Jayson Tatum, which places added emphasis on Jaylen Brown to step up in his stead.
For those interested in wagering on the game, a three-leg same-game parlay has been suggested that includes player prop bets based on projections from the SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates each NBA matchup 10,000 times. The picks for the Celtics versus Timberwolves matchup include:
– Anthony Edwards Under 28.5 points (-110)
– Jaylen Brown Under 28.5 points (-124)
– Celtics money line (+235)
The final odds at DraftKings for this parlay stand at +1055, meaning betting $100 could yield a profit of $1,055.
Analysis shows that although Edwards has averaged 28.0 points this season, recent trends indicate he may fall short of 28.5 points. The model forecasts he will score around 25.9 points on Saturday, noting that he has gone Under in four of his last five home games versus winning teams.
Similarly, Brown is projected to finish Under his points prop as well, with the model estimating he will score approximately 23.7 points. He has consistently gone Under his prop in his last five road games against winning teams, averaging just 19.8 points per game in those situations.
While the SportsLine model leans towards a Timberwolves victory in most of its simulations, the Celtics win in about 43% of scenarios, providing notable value for those considering their money line odds.
As always, it’s crucial for bettors to engage in responsible gaming practices when placing their wagers. Sportsbooks provide resources and tools such as deposit and wager limits, timeout options, and activity alerts to help manage betting activities responsibly. Support is also available through helplines like 1-800-GAMBLER, which is accessible 24/7.