Alex Hunter breaks down his analysis, prediction and pick for Sunday’s matchup between the Timberwolves and the Clippers.

The Timberwolves are hosting the Clippers on Sunday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Minnesota is favored by 9.5 points and this game carries a total of 222.5 points.

Let’s dive into my preview and pick for the game.

Timberwolves vs. Clippers Preview

The Timberwolves aggressively pursued Giannis Antetokounmpo at the deadline, but the Bucks decided not to move the superstar, at least yet. Instead of making a massive move like acquiring Antetokounmpo, Minnesota traded for Ayo Dosunmu from the Bulls, who will be making his Timberwolves debut Sunday.

Dosunmu is a strong combo-guard who is averaging 15 PPG on 51% shooting this season and the veteran should operate as Minnesota’s sixth man. The Timberwolves rank 23rd in bench scoring this season, so Dosunmu’s arrival is great news for the club. Still, it’s going to take some time for the guard to find his footing with the Timberwolves and the team is coming off a 119-115 home loss to the Pelicans, who are just 14-40 this season.

The Timberwolves are 11-8 in the new year, but they do rank sixth in net rating over this time, so the club is playing better than this record suggests. Anthony Edwards has been on fire with at least 30 points in four straight games, but the Clippers did give him fits when these clubs met in early December, with the wing scoring just 15 points while shooting 3-of-11 from the field. That being said, Minnesota still walked away with a 109-106 win that night and this is a much different looking Los Angeles team this time around.

Despite being one of the top teams in the league in the new year, the Clippers were big sellers at the trade deadline, trading both James Harden and Ivica Zubac. Los Angeles received two excellent young guards in Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin in return, which will help the team in the future, but both these players won’t be available to make their Clippers debuts Sunday. Trading Harden and Zubac essentially means Los Angeles as an organization doesn’t believe this team is going places this season and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Kawhi Leonard miss plenty of games after the All-Star break, as this No. 10 seed team looks to fall down the standings.

In the meantime, Leonard should continue to put up big numbers as the Clippers’ clear centerpiece. The two-time NBA Finals MVP led Los Angeles to a 114-111 win over the Kings on Friday with 31 points, but amid all the trades, the Clippers have lost three of their last five and all three of those defeats were by double-digits. Without Garland and Mathurin, Los Angeles severely lacks scoring options after Leonard and the team will likely struggle to score in this tough matchup vs. the Timberwolves, who rank sixth in defensive rating this season.

Timberwolves vs. Clippers Pick, Best Bet

After losing to the Pelicans on Friday, the Timberwolves should bounce back Sunday with a win over the depleted Clippers. Minnesota is 12-8 following a loss this season.

The Timberwolves being a 9.5-point favorite is warranted, but the team has really struggled to cover this season with a 23-30 ATS record, so Minnesota -9.5 is a risky bet. Backing Los Angeles +9.5 also feels dicey given the team’s current state, so instead of betting the sides, I like backing the Timberwolves over their team total of 116.5 points. Minnesota has been great on offense recently, scoring at least 118 points in five of its last six and the Clippers’ defense should be lackluster with the club shorthanded.

Best Bet: Timberwolves O 116.5 Points (-105)