Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Chicago Bulls odds and best bets

These are two teams that are looking to break playoff droughts this season. The Timberwolves are generally a laughingstock, but they have actually made the playoffs more recently than the Bulls. I had to look it up to be sure ... it is true. 

Chicago made their big trade last season in bringing in center Nikola Vucevic. It didn't pay dividends last year, but with the moves they made this offseason, bringing in DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, there was a stretch where the Bulls had the best record in the Eastern Conference not too long ago. Then injuries hit, with Ball, Caruso, second-year forward Patrick Williams and Derrick Jones Jr. all missing time. That has killed Chicago's ability to defend and they have struggled as a result.

In Minnesota, they are hoping that an exciting offense can make them a real threat in the Western Conference. For years, center Karl-Anthony Towns has been a very productive player, but his teams have never won and he has played in just one playoff series. This season, with the likes of the exciting Anthony Edwards and D'Angelo Russell, the Timberwolves can run and gun with pretty much anyone in the league. Their challenge is decisionmaking and being able to play some defense when it matters. They just lost at Sacramento giving up 132 points to a team integrating two new starters. Minnesota is exciting but they need to be more "professional" in their approach.

Game Info

Minnesota Timberwolves (29-26) vs Chicago Bulls (34-21)
Friday, Feb. 11
8:00 p.m. ET
United Center, Chicago Ill.
Bally Sports North

Game Odds

Spread:  Timberwolves +4, Bulls -4
Total: 240.5
Moneyline: Timberwolves +145, Bulls -175

Best Bet

Minnesota +4

Even though they are comin off a loss, I like the Timberwolves to be right there with the Bulls in a shootout on Friday night. Chicago has Vucevic, DeRozan and Zach LaVine, and Minnesota counters with KAT, Ant-Man and Russell. Minnesota is 6-13 SU as a road underdog. I know that record does not stand out, but remember those are games the market is saying they are supposed to lose, and in those same games they are 10-9 ATS. They are 15-10 ATS after a loss, so they have shown some good ability to bounce back after a disappointing effort, too. This is a good spot against a currently inconsistent Chicago team. 

Prop to Consider

Nikola Vucevic Over 12.5 Rebounds (+100)

Nobody thinks of Vucevic as one of the best rebounders in the league, but he is. He is averaging more than 11 boards this season and has been at that level for the last few seasons. This is going to be a game with lots of possessions and lots of opportunities to grab errant shots. Vucevic has been especially productive of late, with 12 or more rebounds in six of his last seven games, and while KAT has size, he does not have the temperament to "own the boards." At this positive value, this is a nice prop to go with tonight.