Target Center will feature Timberwolves vs. Hornets action on Saturday as both teams try to pay off for bettors in NBA action.

The Timberwolves sport records of 21-20 and 23-18 ATS heading into this matchup, while the Hornets sit at 9-31 and 19-21 ATS on the season. The OVER/UNDER records are 20-20-1 for the Timberwolves and 19-20-1 for the Hornets.



View New Orleans vs Minnesota Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Minnesota opened as 9.5-point favorites, while the NBA total was set at 189 for those who prefer OVER/UNDER betting.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Power Rankings at Odds Shark have the No. 20-rated Hornets taking on the No. 9-rated Timberwolves in this contest. Computer models indicate a possible 95-89 win for the Timberwolves on Saturday.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Minnesota's No. 7-ranked offense (97.7 PPG) against a Hornets defense that ranks No. 12 at 94 PPG. The Timberwolves have averaged 43.4% from the field per game, less than the Hornets have managed so far this season (43.8% on average).

Defensively, the Hornets feature the league's No. 10-rated defense on the road, allowing 95.6 points per game. Minnesota, meanwhile, comes in at No. 17 in the league in scoring at home.

The Hornets were a 110-97 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Nuggets. They failed to cover the 11-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (207) made winners of OVER bettors. New Orleans got 18 points from Lance Thomas but lost anyway 110-97 against the Nuggets on Friday at Pepsi Center.

Minnesota lost its last outing, a 105-102 result against the Lakers on March 9. The Timberwolves covered in that game as a 3.5-point underdog, while the 207 combined points took the game OVER the total. Nikola Pekovic scored 25 points and added 13 rebounds for a double-double, but his team still lost 105-102 against Los Angeles in NBA action at Target Center.


New Orleans Hornets Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing Charlotte are 5-5
After playing Denver are 4-6
After a loss are 3-7

Minnesota Timberwolves Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
Before playing Phoenix are 1-9
After playing LA Lakers are 3-7
After a loss are 6-4

A few Hornets at Timberwolves trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of New Orleans's last 9 games when playing Minnesota
New Orleans is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Orleans's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Orleans's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Minnesota's last 9 games when playing New Orleans
Minnesota is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Minnesota's last 8 games
Minnesota is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games


Next up:
New Orleans home to Charlotte, Monday, March 12
Minnesota at Phoenix, Monday, March 12