The 2/7 NBA free pick is a nationally televised ESPN games, which doesn’t bode well for the Cavs who have lost eight straight such contests. Cleveland does have the advantage of being at home, where they are 19-7 on the season while Minnesota has also struggled on the road lately. The aging Cavaliers roster is playing on the second leg of a back-to-back schedule however while the Timberwolves have had three nights off in preparation. Oddsmakers have made Minnesota -3.5 favorites – which seems like a slam dunk on paper.
Timberwolves catching Cavaliers at the right time:https://t.co/CDHpaNeupq pic.twitter.com/OGnT5QOxHY
— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) February 7, 2018
Can Minnesota Conquer Their Road Woes?
The Timberwolves have won 12 straight games on their home court but life on the road has been a bit different where they’ve dropped five of the last six. The Wolves might have a psychological edge in the 2/7 NBA free pick as it was them who beat the Cavs 127-99 on January 8th, sending Cleveland into a free fall in which they lost four straight games by over 24 points. Lebron James was held to 10 points in that game while Minnesota’s combination of Andrew Wiggins, Jimmy Butler, and Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 65. Once again however, that game occured in the comfort of the Target Center.
Overall the Timberwolves have won two in a row, both games by double digits. The two games prior were away losses – a tough defeat in Toronto and an unacceptable loss against Atlanta.Either way Minnesota should be able to go on a run tonight with their top 5 offense taking on Cleveland’s bottom 5 defense. The Timberwolves have scored 110+ in six of the last 9 whereas the Cavs have allowed 110+ in six of the last 10.
It’s a Cliche – But the Cavaliers are a Dumpster Fire
So Cleveland is just 6-13 since Christmas and is without Kevin Love until the end of March. None of the Cavs know if the 2/7 NBA free pick will be their last game with the team with Thursday’s trade deadline looming. Coach Tyrone Lue might miss this contest with an undisclosed illness (left last night’s game and didn’t return) and Dwyane Wade will likely sit out due to the back-to-back scheduling. The Cavs blew a 16 point lead to the second worst team in the league Orlando last night. The Timberwolves might be a little extra motivated tonight considering Cleveland’s Isaiah Thomas was ejected in the last contest for a hard foul on Andrew Wiggins’ head. Other than all of that, the Cavs are doing fine, just fine.
Cleveland is 5-3 at home since the turn of the calendar year. The Cavs are just 1-9 ATS their last 10 vs a team with a winning SU record and 0-7 their last seven vs a team with a winning percentage above .600. Cleveland has won 5 of the last 7 vs Minnesota but the back-to-back situation and the uncertainty of the trade deadline puts them in a tough spot tonight.
*isaiah thomas goes 5/20 from the field* *gets interviewed by the media* “this team has no heart, we don’t play together and these dudes don’t try on defense”
— alex smith got 71 million (@ELITEbreak_) February 7, 2018
2/7 NBA Free Pick Betting
Cleveland is just 2-8 ATS their last 10 and really there’s no justifying wagering on them at this point. 61% of public bettors are on Minnesota, probably due to their road record recently. With the Timberwolves being fresh however, there’s no way to think they aren’t just a better overall matchup at this point.
Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves -3.5
