Celtics vs. Timberwolves Prediction and Odds for January 2: Can the Celtics Regain Their Footing After Recent Skid?

The Boston Celtics (24-9) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (17-15) are set to matchup in a cross-conference battle on Thursday.

The two teams almost met in the NBA Finals last year before the Wolves lost the Western Conference Finals in five games. They struggled to capture the same form they had last season, while the Celtics are just 5-5 over their last 10 games amid what has been their worst streak of the season. 

Here, we will break down the Celtics vs. Timberwolves betting odds and share our favorite pick from the matchup.

Celtics vs. Timberwolves Betting Odds for Thursday, January 2

The Celtics are 13-20 (39.4 percent) against the spread, 6-8 (42.9 percent) ATS on the road, and 13-19 (40.6 percent) ATS as a favorite.

The Timberwolves are 13-19 (40.6 percent) ATS, 4-11 (26.7 percent) ATS at home, and 3-2 (60 percent) ATS as an underdog.

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Head over to FanDuel and place your bets on the Celtics vs. Timberwolves match: Bet $5, Get $250 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

Celtics vs. Timberwolves Prediction

Boston Celtics Preview

The Celtics enter the matchup on the back of a monstrous 125-71 win over the Toronto Raptors on New Year’s Eve. They haven't won back-to-back games since Dec. 15 and only beat the Wolves by two points when they played them at home on Nov. 24.

Boston’s best play usually comes on the attacking end of the court. They rank third in offensive rating and scored 119.9 points per 100 possessions, 1.4 points off of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ league-leading mark. 

They’re also seventh in defensive rating at 109, leading to a net rating of +10.8 (third). 

One of the most noticeable areas of improvement compared to last year is in their ball security. The team ranks second in turnover frequency and fifth in points allowed off of turnovers, though they are not a disruptive team themselves. 

Boston’s perimeter-centric style has drawn criticism from many viewers and pundits, particularly those from past generations. They’re only 13th in efficiency at 36.8 percent, but their high volume has led to them leading the league in makes per game (18.5).

They also rank ninth in three-point defense and held their opponents to 35.2 percent from beyond the arc, giving them a mathematical advantage in the highest-scoring shot in the sport. 

Jaylen Brown was the best player on the court the last time the Celtics faced the Timberwolves. He scored 29 points (7-10 3PT) and dished out four assists to help overcome Anthony Edwards’ 28 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. 

Minnesota Timberwolves Preview

Minnesota had won three straight games against all of the Texas teams before it fell 113-105 to the Oklahoma City Thunder its last time out. That may be a limited sample, but it’s an encouraging sign for a team that had dropped to .500 and looked leaps and bounds away from where it was a year ago.

Defense is still the calling card for the Wolves, who allowed the fourth-fewest points per game and are sixth in defensive rating. They also allowed the fifth-lowest three-point percentage (34.4) and sixth-fewest free-throw attempts per game.

The offense has been much more of a struggle. The team is only 22nd in offensive rating and is why the Wolves only outscored their opponents by 1.7 points per 100 possessions (11th).

Digging into the weeds, the Wolves went from shooting 38.7 percent from three last year to 37.2 percent this time around. Although that’s not a huge difference, it’s enough to have a tangible impact on their confidence and instincts during their games.

The decline in long-range shooting also allowed opposing defenses to show more help to Edwards whenever he tried to get downhill, particularly with Karl-Anthony Towns no longer a threat to space to the three-point line.

That said, the Wolves finished December fourth, shooting 39.7 percent from three. It will be important to monitor this progress as the season continues.

Edwards had a tough December. Despite shooting 38.8 percent from three, he only averaged 20.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He needs to be ready to have a superstar performance on Thursday to have a chance at winning.

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Celtics vs. Timberwolves Betting Pick

• Celtics vs. Timberwolves pick: Celtics -3.5 (-115) at FanDuel

This is the worst stretch of basketball that the Celtics have put together in recent years and comes at a time when the Timberwolves are showing more top-end punch with their three-ball.

A matchup to watch is how Julius Randle copes with Kristaps Porzingis if the latter plays. Pozingis can create matchup conflicts, and it will be incumbent upon Randle to remain mentally focused and to prevent him from creating chinks in Minnesota’s armor.

The Celtics are still the best team in the sport until proven otherwise in the postseason, and they haven’t shown much of a drop-off on the road. Meanwhile, the Wolves have been highly disappointing at home and don’t have Edwards playing at a high level.

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How to Watch Celtics vs. Timberwolves on 1/2/25

• When: Thursday, January 2 @ 6:30/7:30 p.m. CT/ET

• Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

• TV: TNT

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