Timberwolves vs Mavericks Picks, Prediction Today | Sunday, Jan. 7

Here's everything you need to know about Timberwolves vs. Mavericks on Sunday, Jan. 7 — our expert prediction and betting picks for today.

Let's get to our Timberwolves vs. Mavericks prediction and pick.

The Timberwolves won’t be at any sort of travel or rest disadvantage here as they only had to travel from Houston to Dallas. They are coming off a 27-point rout of the Rockets but the Mavericks pose a different challenge offensively than the Rockets.

Dallas ranks eighth in Adjusted Offensive Rating despite playing the eighth most difficult schedule of opposing defenses according to dunksandthrees.com.

With Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on the floor together the Mavericks have an elite Offensive Rating of 121.0 this season. Doncic is questionable, but I would anticipate him playing after sitting out against the Trailblazers on Friday night.

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Monitor the injury report for Dallas as they have a number of guys questionable here. Doncic, Grant Williams and Dante Exum are all questionable while Dereck Lively is doubtful. Lively is a major loss for this matchup as the Timberwolves are heavily predicated on attacking the rim and using their size to punish teams.

Lively is the Mavericks best rim-protector and has a major impact on their defense. The Maverick defense is 4.7 points better per 100 possessions with Lively on the court, and his absence against this massive Timberwolves frontcourt will be felt.

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The injury report for the Mavericks will be key, but at this current number of Timberwolves -2.5, I would lean towards the Wolves. The absence of Lively is massive for me in this game, and I expect the Wolves to score at will.

The T-wolves also have a ton of lengthy wings to throw at Doncic if he plays. Take the Timberwolves -2.5 here.

Pick: Timberwolves -2.5 (-115)