April 5, 2026, 12:11 p.m. ET

The Charlotte Hornets (42-36) travel to face the Minnesota Timberwolves (46-31) at Target Center Sunday. Tip-off from Minneapolis, Minnesota, is set for 7 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze NBA odds around the Hornets vs. Timberwolves odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Timberwolves lead 1-0

Charlotte dominated the Indiana Pacers 129-108 Friday to cover as a 15.5-point favorite as the Over (234.5) cashed. F Brandon Miller put up a team-high 22 points, and F Kon Knueppel scored 20 in the win. The Hornets shot 24 of 49 (49%) from 3-point range against Indiana. The Hornets are in eighth place in the East, 1 game behind Philadelphia and half a game ahead of Orlando. They are guaranteed to make the playoffs with a chance to avoid the Play-In Tournament as they’re 1½ games behind sixth-place Toronto.

Minnesota was handed a 115-103 loss by the Philadelphia 76ers Friday, failing to cover as a 3.5-point road underdog with the Under (233.5) hitting. F Julius Randle and G Bones Hyland both finished with a team-high 21 points, but Minnesota struggled to get much of anything going offensively in the loss. The T-Wolves also clinched a playoff spot, currently sitting as the 6 seed in the West, 2 games behind Houston and 4 games ahead of seventh-place Phoenix — a sixth-place finish would avoid the Play-In round.

In the one head-to-head matchup this season, the T-Wolves claimed a 122-105 road victory Nov. 1 while covering as 4.5-point favorites with the Under (235.5) cashing. Randle led 6 Minnesota players in double figures with 30 points, while F Miles Bridges paced Charlotte with 30 points. The T-Wolves outscored the Hornets 56-36 in the paint.

Watch the NBA on Fubo!Hornets at Timberwolves odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:10 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Hornets -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Timberwolves +105 (bet $100 to win $105)Against the spread (ATS): Hornets -2.5 (-105) | Timberwolves +2.5 (-115)Over/Under (O/U): 227.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Hornets at Timberwolves key injuries

Hornets

C/F Moussa Diabate (ankle) probable

Timberwolves

G Anthony Edwards (knee) questionableF Jaden McDaniels (knee) out

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

Hornets at Timberwolves picks and predictionsPrediction

Hornets 112, Timberwolves 107

LEAN HORNETS (-125).

Charlotte is 8-2 in its last 10 games overall, including a current 3-game win streak. The T-Wolves (+105) are just 1-3 in their last 4 games. The Hornets are also 2-1 in their last 3 visits to Minneapolis.

This is a LEAN because Minnesota has the best player in this matchup in Edwards — if he plays — and because the T-Wolves have won 3 straight against the Hornets.

PASS.

I lean toward the Hornets to cover here as -2.5 (-105) favorites, but their odds are safer on the ML. There’s no need to bet the ML and spread for the same team, but you can divvy up 1 UNIT between the 2 options. Otherwise, PASS and focus on the ML and total (O/U).

BET UNDER 227.5 (-110).

The Under has hit in 9 of Minnesota’s last 10 games, including in its last 7 contests. For Charlotte, the Under is 6-2 in its last 8 overall, cashing 6 Unders in a row until a current 2-game Over showing.

The Under has been much safer for both teams this season. Charlotte is the second best Under team at 48-30 — behind Boston (49-28) — while Minnesota is fourth at 44-33, per Teamrankings.com.

The Under is also 2-1 in the last 3 matchups between these squads overall and in 2 of the last 3 matchups in Minnesota.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.

Access more NBA coverage:

HoopsHype | Celtics Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | LeBron Wire | Rookie Wire | List Wire

Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.

Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose.  While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling.  We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. All forms of betting carry financial risk and it is up to the individual to make bets with or without the assistance of information provided on this site and we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of following the betting tips provided on this site.  Past performances do not guarantee success in the future and betting odds fluctuate from one minute to the next. The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice.

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. It is your sole responsibility to act in accordance with your local laws.