This is a big number for AE even if Rudy Gobert were going to be inactive, however he is suiting up tonight. The Wolves will deploy a big lineup of Gobert, KAT, Kyle Anderson and they are all active on the glass. Make sure to shop around before betting this prop.

I will forever fade Karl-Anthony Towns and this Timberwolves team in any game that matters. I know the Wolves won the play-in last year, but a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while, and what we saw happen with Minnesota in the fourth quarter against the Lakers earlier this week happens too often with this team for it to be a freak occurrence.

In the two games Rudy Gobert played over 24 minutes against Oklahoma City he had 15 and 16 rebounds. Based off of Jonas Valanciunas 18 rebound game in the first play-in game against OKC we have to go with Gobert in this spot. Hear the full story on the Early Edge in 5 at 4pm ET.

This just hit 6 at Caesars so we'll jump as nearly every other book still has 5.5 and I doubt it gets higher. It might plummet if Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert both sit, but I highly, highly doubt that (both are questionable). Underdogs have been money so far in these play-in games and OKC has been the third-best ATS team all season. That squad might be frightening next year with Chet Holmgren healthy. He's already my second-favorite Chet of all time after Wyatt's brother (and eventual poo pile) in the still awesome movie Weird Science. Keep on eye on the third quarter as OKC was No. 1 in the NBA in that quarter this season with a point differential of +2.3.

I've read Gobert can be a bit of a tool (remember his incredibly stupid COVID press conference right before he tested positive a few years ago, which shut down the NBA and then other leagues?) and isn't always well-liked in the locker room. He partly showed why in the Wolves' regular-season finale when he punched teammate Kyle Anderson and was suspended for Tuesday's loss in LA. Gobert is off suspension but questionable tonight with a back issue. If he doesn't play in a do-or-die, he might as well quit the team because his teammates likely would ostracize him. Obviously I think he does play and heavy minutes with the Wolves still missing Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid. They were outrebounded big time without that trio against the Lakers. Gobert averaged 14.7 points and 11.7 boards this year vs. OKC.

These two teams are trending in opposite directions. The vibes aren’t good in Minnesota, with Rudy Gobert getting into an altercation with Kyle Anderson in their final regular season game and Jaden McDaniels sidelining himself by injuring his hand while punching a wall. They blew a big lead against the Lakers on Wednesday, while the Thunder used a stellar second half performance to knock off the Pelicans. The Thunder are 21-11-2 ATS as a road underdog, and I expect them to cover again, if not win outright.

The Minnesota Timberwolves let a golden opportunity slip away in their loss to the Lakers. Now, they’ll face an Oklahoma City Thunder team that knew coming into the play-in they had two road games. That can give them an upper hand early on, with confidence on their side. Look for the Timberwolves to prevail but the Thunder cover the spread

If the same Thunder team that showed up last night against the Pelicans were to play the iteration of the Wolves we saw versus the Lakers, I not only expect them to cover this number, but win outright. Thunder simply have too many scoring options and Timberwolves really lack clutch scorers outside of AE (who I do expect to have a bounceback performance), however the problem is I just do not think the Wolves have enough scoring to keep up with the Thunder. Rudy Gobert is questionable and if he does play the Wolves have major chemistry and spacing issues, while if he sits out they leave themselves very vulnerable protecting the paint. Give me the team with nothing to lose and a ton of young talent.