Timberwolves vs Pelicans prediction NBA · Thursday, December 4
At a glance
The New Orleans Pelicans (3-19) host the Minnesota Timberwolves (13-8) on Thursday, December 4 at 8:00 PM ET at Smoothie King Center in NBA action. Final score: Timberwolves 125 – Pelicans 116. Before tip-off, the Basketlog model gave the Timberwolves a 81% chance to win: prediction correct. This season, the Pelicans are 2-10 at home and the Timberwolves are 6-5 on the road. Over the last 10 games: 1-9 for the Pelicans and 6-4 for the Timberwolves (current streaks: Pelicans L4, Timberwolves W3).
The analysis Model
The Timberwolves start with a clear edge. The model projects Pelicans 111 – 122 Timberwolves, a margin of about 10.8 points in favor of the Timberwolves and a total around 232 points. Expect a fast-paced, high-scoring game.
- The overall strength gap (-8.7 vs +4.3 pts/game) is the main factor.
- The Pelicans need to win the pace battle to stay in the game.
- The Timberwolves' offense (118.3 pts/game) is the more productive of the two.
- The Timberwolves' defense allows clearly fewer points (113.2 pts/game).
What tips the balance
Scenarios
Stat comparison Current season
MINNOTop performers
Timberwolves
Julius RandleF · #3028pts / game
Naz ReidC · #06assists
Rudy GobertC · #2712reboundsPelicans
Trey Murphy IIIF · #2521pts / gameTrey Murphy IIIF · #258assistsTrey Murphy IIIF · #257reboundsRecent form
MINNOHead-to-head
MIN lead 3-1 this season.
MIN
Team comparison
| MIN | NO | |
|---|---|---|
| 13-8 | Record | 3-19 |
| 118.3 | Points scored / game | 111.6 |
| 113.2 | Points allowed / game | 121.9 |
| +4.3 | Adjusted margin / game | -8.7 |
| W3 | Current streak | L4 |
| 6-4 | Last 10 games | 1-9 |
| 6-5 road | Home / road record | 2-10 home |
| 49-33 (+5.0) | Last season | 21-61 (-9.4) |
| No | Played yesterday | No |
Injury report Timberwolves
Injury report Pelicans
Probabilities estimated by the Basketlog model from available public data. They are neither a certainty nor betting advice.