With both teams sitting at identical 42-32 records and fighting for crucial playoff positioning, Sunday's matchup at Target Center could have significant implications as the regular season winds down.
The Pistons arrive in Minnesota riding a three-game winning streak and looking like a completely different team than last year's 14-win squad, though they'll likely be without star guard Cade Cunningham who's dealing with a calf bruise.
All eyes will be on Anthony Edwards and the surging Timberwolves who've won 10 of their last 13 games as they look to avoid the play-in tournament when the Minnesota Timberwolves vs Detroit Pistons tips off Sunday evening.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Detroit Pistons prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Minnesota Timberwolves vs Detroit Pistons matchup, our predictive model gives the Timberwolves a 62.75% chance of defeating the Pistons.
Pre-game probabilities
Minnesota Timberwolves
Moneyline
Win %
62.75%
37.25%
Detroit Pistons
Minnesota Timberwolves: 62.75% win probability
- Superior offensive efficiency (8413 goals for compared to Detroit's 8560)
- Better conference positioning (8th in Western Conference vs Detroit's 5th in Eastern Conference)
- Strong home court advantage (42-32 overall record with recent form of WLWLL)
Detroit Pistons: 37.25% win probability
- Defensive vulnerabilities (8361 goals against, which ranks in the middle of the league)
- Road game disadvantage (traveling to face a competitive Western Conference team)
- Recent momentum concerns (despite WWWLW recent form, they've been inconsistent away from home)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model brings together insights from top NBA experts. Instead of searching through countless expert analyses online, you can rely on our predictions to capture the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing expert picks, data, and trends, while our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. These confidence levels are then averaged to generate an 'expert opinion' win probability—providing a data-driven reflection of the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NBA analysts..
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Detroit Pistons | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
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Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Detroit Pistons preview
The red-hot Timberwolves welcome the surging Pistons to Target Center Sunday night in what promises to be a fascinating clash between two 42-32 squads jockeying for playoff positioning.
Minnesota, coming off an impressive 124-109 dismantling of Phoenix where Julius Randle dropped 25 points, sits precariously in eighth place out West—just a half-game away from avoiding the play-in tournament altogether.
Detroit continues its remarkable turnaround season, riding a three-game win streak that includes Friday's 133-122 victory over Cleveland where Tim Hardaway Jr. exploded for 32 points in Cade Cunningham's absence.
Both squads bring contrasting strengths to the table—the Pistons rank 11th in scoring while Minnesota boasts the league's sixth-best defense, allowing just 109.3 points per game.
The injury report looms large with Detroit's star guard Cunningham (calf) listed as a game-time decision, potentially giving Minnesota a significant edge at home where they've historically dominated this matchup, winning seven of their last ten meetings.
The Timberwolves' fourth-quarter prowess might prove decisive tonight, as they lead the NBA with a 66.2% win rate in final periods this season.
What's truly remarkable is Detroit's complete transformation from last season's 14-win disaster to securing their first winning campaign since 2016.
Keep an eye on Anthony Edwards, who gave Minnesota fans a scare last game with an injury scare but returned to contribute 20 points in what should be another compelling offensive performance tonight.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Detroit Pistons form
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Detroit Pistons head to head
Minnesota Timberwolves
20%
Detroit Pistons
80%
Mar 30, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves
0 : 0
Detroit Pistons
Jan 5, 2025
Detroit Pistons
119 : 105
Minnesota Timberwolves
Mar 28, 2024
Minnesota Timberwolves
106 : 91
Detroit Pistons
Jan 18, 2024
Detroit Pistons
117 : 124
Minnesota Timberwolves
Jan 12, 2023
Detroit Pistons
135 : 118
Minnesota Timberwolves
Jan 1, 2023
Minnesota Timberwolves
104 : 116
Detroit Pistons
