Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves January 14 Betting Preview

The Cleveland Cavaliers will visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 14 for some Saturday night NBA action. This is the second matchup of the season between the teams, with the Timberwolves winning the first game of the series. The Cavaliers (27-16) are at the end of a long five-game road trip. The Timberwolves (20-22) have just started a series of games at home, winning their previous game against the Phoenix Suns.

The Cavaliers are currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and could potentially improve their standings with a win tonight. The Timberwolves are sitting in ninth place in the Western Conference. They are looking to improve their playoff position and avoid the play-in tournament.

Both teams won their previous games. Which team will extend their win streak following the matchup on Saturday night? Let’s break down each team and give a betting overview.

Cleveland Cavaliers Preview

The Cavaliers have gone 2-2 so far in their road trip. They survived their most recent game in a close victory against the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite Damian Lillard scoring 50 points for Portland, some key late plays from Cleveland’s backcourt helped secure the victory for the Cavaliers.

Jarrett Allen has been playing very well lately. He had 24 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in his last game. His defensive presence on the floor has turned the Cavaliers into one of the best defensive teams in the league this season.

Allen is key to Cleveland’s success, particularly against the Timberwolves, a team that features an All-Star center in Rudy Gobert. Allen will need to win his matchup by making a bigger impact than Gobert to give the Cavs the best chance of victory on Saturday.

Minnesota Timberwolves Preview

The Timberwolves have had a rough first half of the season. After trading several first-round picks to acquire Rudy Gobert, Minnesota has largely fallen short of expectations this season. 

Karl-Anthony Towns also suffered an injury about a month ago, but that does not excuse the lack of effort seen from the team so far. Towns is still considered weeks away from returning, so he will not be available for the game against Cleveland.

The Timberwolves defeated an injury-ridden Suns team in their most recent game. Anthony Edwards led the team by scoring 31 points. After an inconsistent start to the season, the young Minnesota star has picked things up. They will need his scoring if they are going to keep up with the Cavaliers.

Odds

There are a few things to look out for in this matchup. The Cavaliers are viewed as the betting favorites, but the Timberwolves are winners of their last four games at home, making them an intriguing underdog bet. 

These teams both feature skilled defensive players, particularly in the frontcourt. For that reason, this may be a low-scoring exhibition.

There are also a few key matchups to look out for. The first matchup is the one previously mentioned between Jarrett Allen and Rudy Gobert. The second is the matchup between Anthony Edwards and Cleveland’s backcourt. 

Darius Garland scored 51 points in the last matchup between the Cavs and the Timberwolves. Donovan Mitchell is also capable of catching fire on any given night. The offensive production from either team’s backcourt may play a big role in deciding the winner of this game.