Minnesota Timberwolves @ Charlotte Hornets - March 5, 2025

As the Charlotte Hornets prepare to face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Spectrum Center, they find themselves in a tough spot, fighting to snap a seven-game losing streak. The oddsmakers have opened with the Timberwolves as -9-point favorites, and given recent performances, it’s hard to argue against that line.

Charlotte’s struggles are evident when you look at their offensive stats. They average just 105.2 points per game on a shooting percentage of 42.5%. Their three-point shooting is even more concerning at only 33.7%, which places them among the league’s lower tier in terms of perimeter efficiency. With an assist average of just 23.8, ball movement seems stagnant, leading to predictable offenses that opposing defenses can easily exploit.

Defensively, while Charlotte grabs an impressive 45.6 total rebounds per game and averages over eight steals, their turnovers—over 15 per game—are problematic and contribute significantly to their current woes. Additionally, committing nearly 19 fouls per game can lead to opponents getting easy scoring opportunities from the free-throw line.

On the other hand, Minnesota comes into this matchup riding high after a solid win against the Philadelphia 76ers where they scored 126 points and covered the spread comfortably as favorites. Averaging over 112 points per game on nearly 46% shooting gives them a clear edge offensively compared to Charlotte’s output. Their three-point shooting is also stronger at about 37.5%, making them more dangerous from beyond the arc.

Defensively, Minnesota holds up reasonably well too; they grab around 44 total rebounds and force about eight steals each contest while limiting turnovers better than Charlotte does at approximately 14.6 per game. This could be crucial in dictating pace and flow during Wednesday night’s matchup.

Given these statistics and trends, I predict that Minnesota will not only win but also cover the spread of -9 points effectively due to their superior offensive capabilities and defensive resilience compared to Charlotte’s ongoing struggles both ways on the court.

The game’s total opened at 221.5 but considering both teams’ recent scoring trends—especially Charlotte’s propensity for low-scoring games—I expect this match will lean toward being an UNDER affair again tonight based on historical data showing four of Charlotte’s last five games have gone under.

In conclusion: expect Minnesota to dominate this one with a comfortable victory while covering that spread; anticipate a final score that likely falls below that opening total as both teams play out their respective narratives—the Timberwolves striving for consistency while Charlotte looks desperately for answers amidst adversity.