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Posted at 8:00 AM ET. Odds are subject to change

PORTLAND +150 ML over Minnesota

Rose Garden at the Moda Center – Portland, OR

10:00 PM ET. Every so often, an opening-night line stops you in your tracks — and this one does exactly that. At first glance, Minnesota appears to be the clearly superior team: a playoff-tested core led by rising superstar Anthony Edwards, surrounded by experience, depth, and chemistry. Portland, on the other hand, enters the year with modest expectations and a roster that most would describe as transitional. Ask the average fan, and you’ll hear that the Timberwolves should roll. But perception and pricing often tell two very different stories.

Despite all the preseason hype surrounding Minnesota’s potential to contend in the West, oddsmakers are signaling hesitation. If the Wolves are truly the juggernaut the public believes, why are they barely favored — not even by a full possession — against a team that went 36-46 last year? That subtle clue from the market suggests something beneath the surface, and is prudent to take note when a number doesn’t align with conventional wisdom.

Portland’s offseason headlines were mixed — the return of favorite son Damian Lillard for mentorship (he won’t play this season due to rehabbing an ACL tear) and the acquisition of steady veteran Jrue Holiday. Nothing moves the needle behind that. But behind the narrative of mediocrity lies a roster full of energy, youth, and nothing to lose. The Blazers will play with pace, aggression, and a collective edge that could easily catch a complacent Minnesota squad off guard on opening night. Especially when they are at home and renowned as tough to beat in Portland.

Emotions, distractions, and early-season rust often make these early matchups unpredictable. And when the market refuses to price a supposed powerhouse accordingly, it’s usually for good reason. The setup screams “trap,” and the sharper side looks to be the home underdog. In a spot ripe for surprise, Rip City offers strong value to pull off what may look like an upset on paper but what the line quietly foreshadows.

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