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Season finales with nothing at stake may be boring across most of the league, but the Minnesota Timberwolves have made sure to make tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans a headline event in the Twin Cities. Kevin Garnett is returning for the first time since 2018.
With few angles to bet in what is effectively an exhibition game, my Pelicans vs. Timberwolves predictions and these NBA picks put a touch of stock in Garnett’s influence on Minnesota’s reserves on Sunday, April 12.
Pelicans vs Timberwolves prediction
Pelicans vs Timberwolves best bet: Timberwolves -6 (-110)
If you know a Minnesota Timberwolves player’s name, he’s either sitting tonight or is named Donte DiVincenzo, and the latter is playing tonight simply to have played in all 82 games this season. He is not likely to see a full workload.
However, are Minnesota’s reserves better than the New Orleans Pelicans in general? Quite possibly. Terrence Shannon Jr. figures to score 30 points in this role. Joan Beringer may grab 15 rebounds if he can stay out of foul trouble. This is quite possibly Joe Ingles’ final NBA game.
There are ways of envisioning the Timberwolves putting up some numbers tonight.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans are not opposed to losing. They have a slight hope of tying the Grizzlies and Mavericks for the sixth-worst record in the league. In fact, Dallas is favored by 6.5 points tonight against the Bulls, the one inter-conference game on the slate.
Kevin Garnett at courtside should only further Shannon’s and Beringer’s motivation, though perhaps not holding as much mystique for Ingles, who overlapped with the Hall of Famer by two seasons in the NBA, the two seasons in which Garnett returned to Minnesota.
That motivation and the Pelicans’ lack of it should keep this a multi-bucket game.
Pelicans vs Timberwolves same-game parlay
Betting on the Timberwolves early and betting on an Over are both bets on Terrence Shannon Jr. The second-year wing has been stymied by injury this season, slowed to start the year, and then sidelined for two months in the middle of it.
With Minnesota coasting into the postseason, however, Shannon has taken center stage in the last two games, shooting 19-for-27 from the field and 10-for-14 from deep while scoring 33 and then 23 points.
He does not take long to get going, and once rolling, Shannon does not stop. It is not a coincidence that each of Minnesota’s last two games went Over the total.
Pelicans vs Timberwolves SGP
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Timberwolves first half -3
Pelicans vs Timberwolves odds
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Spread: Pelicans +6 | Timberwolves -6
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Moneyline: Pelicans +220 | Timberwolves -270
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Over/Under: Over 236 | Under 236
Pelicans vs Timberwolves betting trend to know
The Pelicans are 2-6 ATS in their last eight games. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Timberwolves.
How to watch Pelicans vs Timberwolves
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Location |
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN |
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Date |
Sunday, April 12, 2026 |
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Tip-off |
8:30 p.m. ET |
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TV |
Pelicans+, FDSN-North |
Pelicans vs Timberwolves latest injuries
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