We are just 68 days away from Minnesota Timberwolves' regular season basketball returning! With the NBA releasing every team’s schedule on Thursday, it is now known that the Wolves’ opener will take place on October 22. They will be going on the road to the Moda Center to take on the Portland Trail Blazers.
While the Timberwolves finished 13 games better than Portland in last season’s standings, the Blazers played much-improved basketball after the All-Star break. As of now, oddsmakers are expecting the game to be a close affair with the Wolves being -2.5 point favorites.
Timberwolves are listed as small favorites for season opener
With the NBA’s schedule release, sportsbooks have been provided spreads (as well as money lines and O/U) for some of the regular season games, particularly the early ones. That includes the October 22 meeting between the Timberwolves and Trail Blazers.
As of this writing, Minnesota is listed as 2.5 point favorites over Portland on DraftKings Sportsbook. Despite having two of their most successful seasons in franchise history, the Wolves have lost their last two season openers. Last season, they lost by seven to the Lakers, and to open the 2023-24 season, the Timberwolves fell to the Raptors by three. Both of those games were on the road as well.
Spread may seem disrespectful, but it is fair
With the Timberwolves reaching the conference finals and the Trail Blazers missing the playoffs, the spread might seem a bit disrespectful. The more you look, though, it seems to be fair.
The two teams met up four times last season and split the four matchups. The home team won every time. The Wolves and Blazers met up on back-to-back days last season in Portland on November 12 and 13. Portland won those outings by 14 and eight. The games weren't relative close in Minnesota as the Timberwolves won by 25 and 16 (even with Anthony Edwards missing the second game).
Despite finishing 10 games under .500 at 36-46, the Trail Blazers had a winning record at home (22-19). Even with their losing overall record, they far exceeded the expectations placed upon them entering the season.
Portland also traded for two-time NBA champion (albeit an aging one), Jrue Holiday. While at first glance, the Timberwolves being favored by just 2.5 points may seem disrespectful, it should be looked at as a fair spread that sees Minnesota as the talented team that they are. It. would be a solid win for the Wolves to start the season if they prevail.