Betting tips from AI for New Orleans Pelicans vs Minnesota Timberwolves, 03 December 2025.

I lean Minnesota here — take the Timberwolves to win outright. Minnesota comes in as a heavy favorite at 1.22, and despite some shaky recent road covers, their depth and momentum are the clearest path to an outright win against an injury-hit New Orleans club.

The Pelicans are severely shorthanded (Herbert Jones and Dejounte Murray out, Jordan Poole and Zion Williamson day-to-day), which undercuts any home-crowd bounce or rustic cover arguments even at Smoothie King Center. Analysts noting the under and low pace make this feel like a controlled Minnesota win rather than a high-variance upset.

For a $1 wager seeking steady profit, the safer, probability-backed play is Minnesota — accept the small payout and preserve bankroll growth rather than chase the longshot 4.80.

The Timberwolves come into this matchup as heavy favorites, and for good reason. Despite their shaky road form recently, failing to cover in most away games, the Pelicans are severely hampered by injuries to key players like Herbert Jones and Dejounte Murray, with Zion Williamson and Jordan Poole day-to-day. This leaves New Orleans short-handed and inconsistent. While the Smoothie King Center will be loud, Minnesota's depth and momentum are likely to neutralize the home-court advantage.

Analysts are split, with some highlighting the Pelicans' resilience at home and ability to cover big spreads against Minnesota in the past. However, the prevailing sentiment is that the Timberwolves will cover the 16.38 or 11.53 spread, given their strong record against losing teams and New Orleans' struggles on both ends of the court. The odds of 1.22 for Minnesota reflect this strong favoritism. The under is also trending, as both teams play at a slow pace. I'm backing the Timberwolves to secure a comfortable victory.

The Timberwolves at 1.22 are heavy favorites for good reason. Minnesota has dominated against struggling teams this season, and the Pelicans find themselves in dire straits with multiple key injuries. Herbert Jones and Dejounte Murray are confirmed out, while Jordan Poole and Zion Williamson remain questionable.

While the Pelicans have shown resilience at home and the Timberwolves have struggled to cover spreads on the road, the talent disparity is simply too wide to ignore. New Orleans' offensive and defensive metrics have plummeted with their depleted roster.

Minnesota's depth should neutralize any home-court advantage at the Smoothie King Center. The Wolves' road form may be shaky, but they have the firepower to overcome that against this injury-ravaged Pelicans squad.

With the line at 1.22, there's not much value, but Minnesota is the safest bet to win outright in what should be a relatively low-scoring affair, likely staying under the 235 total points projected by oddsmakers.

The Minnesota Timberwolves head into New Orleans as heavy favorites at 1.22, and for good reason. Despite the Pelicans' home resilience and a raucous crowd at the Smoothie King Center, their injury woes are crippling—Herbert Jones and Dejounte Murray are out, with Zion Williamson and Jordan Poole day-to-day. This leaves a short-handed squad struggling on both ends, ranking low in pace and scoring.

Minnesota, meanwhile, boasts depth and momentum, excelling against losing teams like the Pelicans. Experts predict they'll cover the -6.5 or -9.5 spread comfortably, neutralizing any home edge. The under is trending too, with totals under 235 in recent head-to-heads, but the Wolves' road form has been shaky in covering—yet their overall talent should prevail.

While the +380 on New Orleans tempts as a longshot, the smart money rides Minnesota's consistency for a straightforward win. This matchup screams value on the favorite.

The Timberwolves are heavy favorites at 1.22, backed by their strong record against losing teams and depth. However, recent shaky road form, with failures to cover spreads, raises questions.

New Orleans faces significant injury woes, with Herbert Jones and Dejounte Murray sidelined and Zion Williamson day-to-day, undermining their consistency. Despite home-court energy at Smoothie King Center, the Pelicans' short-handed roster struggles on both ends.

Minnesota's momentum and defensive prowess, highlighted by the under trend, should overcome road hiccups, securing a win even if it's not a blowout.

This matchup between the New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves presents an intriguing betting scenario. The odds tell a story of dominance, with the Timberwolves sitting at 1.22 compared to the Pelicans' 4.80. On paper, Minnesota is the clear favorite, but there are nuances worth exploring.

The Pelicans have shown resilience at home in recent games, even managing to cover large spreads against stronger opponents. However, their current injury woes cannot be ignored. Without key players like Herbert Jones and Dejounte Murray, and with Zion Williamson’s status uncertain, New Orleans faces a steep uphill battle. Their offensive and defensive struggles this season compound the issue, making it hard to envision them keeping pace with Minnesota's depth.

Minnesota, despite shaky road form, has excelled against weaker teams, which bodes well for them here. Their ability to control tempo and limit scoring could prove decisive, especially given the under trend highlighted by analysts. With both teams ranking low in pace and recent head-to-head matchups trending toward lower scores, the Timberwolves’ disciplined playstyle might neutralize any home-court energy from the Smoothie King Center crowd.

While the Pelicans could leverage their passionate fans to stay competitive early, Minnesota’s superior roster and momentum should ultimately prevail. Betting on the Timberwolves may not yield massive returns due to their steep odds, but their consistency makes them the safer, more logical choice.