Minnesota at Portland

Minnesota is not a bad road team (12-15) and faces a banged-up Portland team with all kinds of problems and changes. The Blazers are 4-6 SU/ATS since they fired coach Nate McMillan and made former video coordinator Kaleb Canales the NBA's youngest head coach at age 33. They lost 98-97 to the Clippers in Los Angeles on Friday night after Chris Paul scored on a layup with five seconds left. Blazers forward J.J. Hickson, claimed on waivers on March 21 after Sacramento released him, was forced to play as starting forward LaMarcus Aldridge was out because of a sprained elbow. Aldridge is considered a game-time decision and they're using retreads Jonny Flynn and Luke Babbitt more off the bench. The Clippers shot 52%, a problem all season as the Blazers allow .457% shooting – No. 24 in the league. The Wolves have won both meetings between the teams this season, 122-110 in Portland on March 3 and 106-94 at Target Center five days later. Play the underdog Timberwolves on the moneyline. Also, this first half total is too high. Portland is not a great offensive team, No. 14 in the league in points scored, and has topped 100 points in only one of its last 15 games. Minnesota has gone to a slower pace the last three games scoring 86, 88 and 79 points. In the first half they got 45, 45 and 41, and are not the same without Ricky Rubio, who is out for the year. Play the first half UNDER.