Minnesota Timberwolves vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction: Fallen Hornets take on average Wolves

The NBA Regular Season action has resumed after the All-Star Break and we are now speeding toward the Postseason territories. Therefore, this becomes a crucial window just before we will learn what teams are going to feature in the Playoffs bracket and also in the Play-in bracket. One team that is likely heading to the Play-in bracket is the Minnesota Timberwolves and they will take on the out-of-the-race Charlotte Hornets.

Before the week-long All-Star Break, the Timberwolves were defeated by the Wizards 106:114 despite a 34 points effort by their All-Star wing Anthony Edwards. Edwards has scored 30+ in three of the last four games and because of his efforts, the team is one game above the 50% win with 31 victories and 30 losses. The Wolves have lost five of their last nine games and they need to be more consistent than that in a wild race for the Playoffs.

The trouble is that most of their games are away from home after this game and that is always complicated. Karl Anthony-Towns who has missed most of the season is expected to return during crunch time before the Playoffs. After trading away D’Angelo Russell, the shooting has weakened further and the scoring burden has only increased for Edwards. Can he will his team to the top six when it is all said and done?

To close out the window before the All-Star Break, the Hornets had a rare second win in a row as they defeated the lowly Spurs 120:110 as LaMelo Ball scooped up 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Charlotte has won two in a row and had lost seven in a row before that. The team has had two eight-game losing streaks before and as a result of these persistent lengthy losing streaks, they have compiled 43 losses and 17 wins.

Their Postseason hopes are pretty much dusted at this point and not having Miles Bridges hurt their Frontline strength while the players like Hayward and Washington have misfired all season long. LaMelo’s future with the team can be questioned at this point as he has had an unit that hasn’t fired at all. The Hornets’ management has their work cut out in the offseason, and they will need to build something special around Ball.

• Hornets: OUT: Cody Martin. PROBABLE: Terry Rozier III, Kelly Oubre Jr.;
• Timberwolves: OUT: Karl Anthony-Towns.

• Expected Leading Scorers: Anthony Edwards(28+ Points), LaMelo Ball(25+ Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Rudy Gobert(13-17 Rebounds), LaMelo Ball(8-11 Rebounds);
• Expected Leading Playmakers: LaMelo Ball(9+ Assists), Mike Conley(7+ Assists).

The Wolves have been a rather up-and-down team, therefore, you never know what package you will get from them. On the other hand, the Hornets have let their fanbase down throughout the season and they have been unable to get anything going. Due to this reason, Edwards’ led Wolves are bound to be favored here, they are playing at home and against a vulnerable squad. I predict a scoreline of 126:113 in favor of Minnesota.