Minnesota Timberwolves at Brooklyn Nets: Odds, injuries, what to watch for

The Minnesota Timberwolves close out their two-game East Coast swing with a showdown against the top-seeded Brooklyn Nets.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Brooklyn Nets: Odds, injuries, what to watch for

The Wolves head to Barclays Center on the heels of a disappointing road loss to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. Still, they’ve won seven of their last nine games, and closing the road trip with a win before heading home for three straight would be a huge momentum-builder.

The Nets sit at 15-6 and hold the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference and the third-best record in the NBA overall.

Their only losses over the past five weeks — Oct. 27, to be exact — have come against the two teams ahead of them in the NBA standings and the team right behind them in the Eastern Conference. That’s a span of 15 games, with stumbles only coming against the Chicago Bulls (currently 15-8), the Golden State Warriors (18-3), and the Phoenix Suns (19-3).

Karl-Anthony Towns’ availability will apparently be a game-time decision as he will try to play following his scary fall on Wednesday night. It goes without saying that Towns’ presence will be vital to the Wolves having a legitimate chance to pull this one out.

Minnesota Timberwolves odds at Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are favored by 7.5 points against the Wolves on Friday night, according to WynnBet. Given the injury situation and the Nets’ standing as one of the league’s best squads, it’s not a surprise.

TV and streaming info for Minnesota Timberwolves at Brooklyn Nets

• Tip-off: 6:30 CT
• Television: Bally Sports North
• Radio: 830 WCCO
• Stream: Fubo.tv offers streaming options

What to watch for in Minnesota Timberwolves at Brooklyn Nets

The Nets go how Kevin Durant goes. Yes, James Harden is still fantastic, but Durant has been one of the best players in the league this year now that he’s fully healthy.

Durant is averaging a league-leading 28.6 points per game and shooting a crazy 53.9 percent from the floor despite taking only 12 percent of his shot attempts from within three feet of the rim. He still does a ton of his damage from the mid-range, and his 3-point rate is at its lowest mark since the 2012-13 season.

Still, KD is making 38.9 percent of his 3-point attempts and can score from anywhere on the floor. The Wolves would love to turn to Jaden McDaniels to try and slow down Durant, but McDaniels hasn’t played since last Saturday due to flu-like symptoms and is listed as questionable once again for Friday’s tilt.

Jarred Vanderbilt played on Wednesday and is listed as probable, but he may struggle to stick with Durant on the perimeter. With no Patrick Beverley, expect Josh Okogie to get the assignment for much of the game. The other option could be Leandro Bolmaro, in what would be a true “welcome to the league” moment for the 21-year-old rookie.

Then again, there’s also Harden to contend with, so all of the aforementioned Wolves players will get a shot at defending a superstar. Fun night in Brooklyn, indeed…

The Nets boast a top-10 offense and a top-10 defense. They are dead-last in offensive rebounding, which is a fortunate match for the Wolves’ league-worst defensive rebounding unit — especially if any combination of Towns, Vanderbilt, or McDaniels were to miss the game.

Brooklyn is comfortable playing fast, with Durant, Harden, and Patty Mills pushing tempo with each offering the ability to score at all three levels.

Injury report for Minnesota Timberwolves at Brooklyn Nets

The Wolves have Towns and McDaniels listed questionable, the former due to a tailbone contusion and the latter with flu-like symptoms. Jaylen Nowell was also added as questionable due to a “non-COVID illness.”

Vanderbilt and Anthony Edwards are both listed as probable due to flu-like symptoms. Beverley remains out, with late next week representing the rough timing the Wolves had previously offered for the veteran guard to have his adductor strain reevaluated.

The Nets have been missing Kyrie Irving all season, of course. Sharpshooter Joe Harris is out for the foreseeable future due to ankle surgery.

We’ll be back after the game with player grades. Enjoy Wolves-Nets on a Friday night, and here’s to 12-11!