Minnesota vs San Antonio Prediction: Can Minnesota win their 2nd game in a row?

At the beginning of the season, the Timberwolves have only alternated between wins and losses so far, and they can begin a long winning streak against San Antonio. Can Minnesota win their 2nd game in a row?

The Timberwolves don't have the most difficult calendar at the start of the season, and so far, they have beaten Oklahoma twice, losing to Utah. Things haven't gone smoothly after the Rudy Gobert exchange, and Karl-Anthony Towns hasn't been very effective so far. That may be due to a move to the heavy forward position, although Towns also had serious health issues in the offseason that caused the star big man to lose weight. The role-players, on the other hand, are pleasing. With the departure of Malik Beasley and Patrick Beverley, more responsibility has fallen to Jaden McDaniels and Jaylen Nowell, averaging 13.3 and 15 points, respectively. Anthony Edwards is slowly taking over the leadership role, scoring 30+ points in 2 straight games. Kyle Anderson and Eric Paschall are out and will definitely not play against San Antonio.

Chris Finch's team scored poorly from beyond the arc in their last regular-season game against Oklahoma State, but more than half of their points came from the paint. Anthony Edwards was aggressive in the paint, and Towns, McDaniels, and Gobert all shot well from under the basket. The Timberwolves defended well at the arc, and McDaniels was especially tenacious, making 4 steals in the process.

The Spurs, contrary to predictions, are far from being the worst team in the Western Conference. In 3 regular season games, they have won 2 games. There are many young players on the team right now, but so far, the more experienced Josh Richardson, Doug McDermott, and Jakob Poeltl are keeping San Antonio from falling apart. Tre Jones' attacking arsenal is very limited, but he is the Spurs' starting point guard. After Dejounte Murray and Derrick White, there is a clear regression in the backline. Much is expected of Devin Vassell, but there are also many questions about his play. The offensive leader and most talented player for the Spurs are Keldon Johnson, with 21.3 points per game to prove it. The good news is that the San Antonio players have no health problems, and all the strongest will take to the court against Minnesota.

The day before, Gregg Popovich's men sensationally defeated Philadelphia 114-105. The Spurs shut off the Sixers, and their effectiveness on offense was excellent. Vassell, McDermott, and Johnson shot well from beyond the arc, while Vassell, Richardson, and Poeltl each had 10+ points. Overall, San Antonio defended well in the paint, although they gave Joel Embiid a chance to turn around.

Even in the loss against Utah, the Timberwolves looked confident overall and could have led the way to victory. The home team has good role players, Anthony Edwards is gaining in form, and Russell and Gobert are looking good. Thanks to their efficient system, San Antonio can combine well and create big chances to shoot, but the Spurs' lack of skill may make them unlikely to be stable. So far, the Spurs have only one player who can claim star status, and too much depends on veterans Richardson and McDermott. If the game does not go well for the latter two, they could end up in a blowout. Our prediction for the matchup is as follows:

• Minnesota Handicap (-7.5) for 1.71;
• Total Under 232.5 for 2.12;
• San Antonio Total Under 112.5 points for 2.00.