Alex Hunter breaks down his preview, prediction and pick for Sunday’s NBA matchup between the Timberwolves and Hornets.

The Timberwolves are hosting the Hornets on Sunday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Charlotte is favored by 3.5 points, and this game carries a total of O/U 226.5 points.

Let’s dive into my preview and pick for this matchup.

Timberwolves vs. Hornets preview

The Timberwolves are coming off back-to-back losses and will be without Anthony Edwards for the seventh time in the team’s last nine games. The superstar is dealing with a nagging knee injury that really bothered him this past Friday against the 76ers, when he shot 3-of-15 from the field for just eight points across 26 minutes.

Getting Edwards healthy before the playoffs is crucial for the Timberwolves, and he almost certainly will miss a few more of the team’s last five games in the regular season, as Minnesota is very likely to finish as the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. At 46-31, the Timberwolves are two games back of the Rockets for the No. 5 seed and four games ahead of the Suns for the No. 6 seed.

The Timberwolves are 10-7 with Edwards inactive this season, and they play a different type of basketball with him sidelined, as the club thrives on defense but struggles on offense. With Edwards off the floor, Minnesota’s offensive rating is 7.0 points worse, but its defensive rating is 6.7 points better per 100 possessions. With Edwards inactive, the Timberwolves are allowing only 108.2 PPG, which would rank third in the NBA if it were their season average. On offense, expect Julius Randle, Ayo Dosnumu and Naz Reid to lead the way for Minnesota.

The Timberwolves defeated the Hornets 122-105 in Charlotte on Nov. 1, but a lot has changed for the Hornets since then. Charlotte has been one of the best teams in the NBA in the second half of the season, with a 16-7 record and ranking second in net rating since the All-Star break. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are 12-9 and rank 18th in net rating during this span.

With LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller thriving, the Hornets lead in the NBA in offensive rating since the All-Star break. Sunday’s matchup should be an exciting clash with the Edwards-less Timberwolves’ elite defense, and this is an important game for Charlotte. At 42-36, the Hornets are the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. They are only one game back of the No. 7-seeded 76ers and only a half game ahead of the No. 9-seeded Magic with just four games remaining in the regular season.

Timberwolves vs. Hornets pick, best Bet

Getting a win tonight is more crucial for the Hornets, and they have been the much better team as of late. Charlotte should win this game, and backing the team to cover -3.5 is viable, but under 226.5 points is a better bet.

The Hornets rank second in the NBA for the under with a 48-30 record, and the Timberwolves are 10-7 for the under with Edwards inactive.

Best Bet: Under 226.5 Points (-115)