The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to Florida to take on the Miami Heat on Friday night at Kaseya Center. Both teams enter the matchup in seventh place in their respective conferences, making this an important game for playoff positioning. Minnesota (35-29) sits in the middle of the Western Conference, while Miami (29-32) is trying to stay above the play-in line in the East.
These teams met earlier this season, with Miami pulling out a close 95-94 victory in Minnesota. In that game, Tyler Herro led the Heat with 26 points, while Anthony Edwards struggled, shooting just 8-for-24 from the field. The Timberwolves will look to bounce back and split the season series, while Miami hopes to defend its home court, where they have a 15-12 record this year.
Minnesota Preview – Edwards Continues to Lead the Offense
Anthony Edwards has been the driving force for the Timberwolves, averaging a career-high 27.5 points per game this season. He has been even better lately, averaging over 30 points per game in March. Despite his scoring ability, one concern has been his technical fouls, as he leads the league with 17 this season. The Heat will likely try to frustrate him defensively, just as they did in their previous meeting.
The Timberwolves are coming off a 125-110 road win over Charlotte, where Edwards and Jaden McDaniels each scored 29 points. Minnesota played that game without point guard Mike Conley (rest) and center Rudy Gobert (back). Conley is expected to return against Miami, providing veteran leadership in the backcourt, while Gobert’s status is uncertain.
Minnesota ranks fifth in the league in three-point shooting at 37.7%, with Donte DiVincenzo being a key contributor. He is shooting 39.4% from deep and has provided solid all-around play since arriving from New York. The Timberwolves will need strong outside shooting and solid interior defense to slow down Miami’s attack.
Miami Preview – Battling Through Injuries
The Heat have been dealing with multiple injuries, with several key players questionable or out. Tyler Herro, the team’s leading scorer at 23.9 points per game, missed their last game against Cleveland due to illness. Miami was also without Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jovic, Kel’el Ware, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. Despite missing so many players, the Heat still led the Cavaliers late in the game before falling 112-107.
One player Miami can count on is Bam Adebayo, who has been a consistent force. He scored a season-high 34 points against Cleveland and is averaging 17.5 points and 10 rebounds per game. His ability to control the paint will be crucial against a Minnesota team that could be without Gobert. Adebayo’s defense will also be key in trying to slow down the Timberwolves’ frontcourt.
Point guard Davion Mitchell has given Miami a boost since being acquired from Toronto in the Jimmy Butler trade. He has provided strong perimeter defense while shooting 48.5% from three in his 10 games with the team. Miami will need a strong effort from its supporting cast, as depth is an issue with so many injuries.
Betting Prediction
Minnesota comes into this game as a slight favorite, with the spread set at -4.5. The Timberwolves are 18-15 on the road, while Miami is 15-12 at home. With Herro’s status uncertain and multiple Miami players dealing with injuries, Minnesota has the edge in terms of available talent. If Gobert plays, the Timberwolves should have an advantage inside, but even without him, their three-point shooting gives them an edge.
Miami has been resilient despite its injuries, but the lack of depth could catch up to them against a deeper Minnesota team. The Timberwolves offense has been clicking, and Edwards should have a better performance than he did in the first meeting. Expect Minnesota to control the pace and cover the spread in this matchup.
Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves -4.5
