The Minnesota Timberwolves make the trip to Fiserv Forum on Tuesday to face the Milwaukee Bucks in a matchup between two teams that have gone in very different directions this season. Minnesota arrives with a strong 26-14 record and momentum from a recent stretch of victories. Milwaukee is 17-22, has been inconsistent, and is looking to use this contest as a springboard to climb back into the playoff conversation in the Eastern Conference. Here, I break down all the action between these two teams and bring you my Timberwolves vs Bucks prediction.
Our Timberwolves vs Bucks Pick
Pick:
Bucks -3.5 ATS PRO
Confidence:
3/5
Game Snapshot
Matchup: Minnesota Timberwolves @ Milwaukee Bucks
Date & Time: Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 8:10 PM
Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
Minnesota enters this game riding a strong run with five wins in their last six outings. They have shown they can score at an elite clip, averaging nearly 120 points per game this season. Their balanced offense and playmaking depth have been noticeable strengths. But the absence of Rudy Gobert due to a one-game suspension for flagrant foul accumulation removes an interior anchor who is averaging 11.0 points and 11.4 rebounds. That could hurt the Wolves on defense, especially when trying to protect the rim against Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee is below .500 overall and is seeking consistency. The Bucks dropped a close game to Denver on Sunday despite a team-high 31 points and 11 assists from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has been leading this team through its ups and downs. That performance illustrated Milwaukee’s reliance on his production for both scoring and facilitating, and that even his elite level of play isn't always enough to help the Bucks win games. The Bucks have been somewhat up and down but are more comfortable in their home environment, where they are a .500 team this year. They will need contributions from secondary scorers like Ryan Rollins and Kyle Kuzma to keep pace with Minnesota’s offensive firepower.
Injuries and player availability loom large. The Wolves are without Anthony Edwards due to a foot injury, which is a huge loss given how important he is for the offense of Minnesota. Timberwolves role players like Terrence Shannon Jr. are listed as day-to-day with foot soreness as well. That could open up opportunities for Milwaukee to get a much-needed win on their home floor in this matchup.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
The Wolves won the first meeting between these teams this season by a score of 103-100.
Milwaukee is 18-21 against the spread for the season.
Minnesota is 17-23 against the spread going into Tuesday night.
The under is 23-16 in Bucks games this season.
The under is 21-19 in Timberwolves games entering this matchup.
Timberwolves vs Bucks Model Projection
Score Projection: Timberwolves 110 – Bucks 117 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Timberwolves 46%, Bucks 54% ATS PRO
Final Thoughts
The Wolves have suffered too many losses to be relied upon to win this game on the road against a desperate Bucks team. I will go with a desperate Milwaukee squad to get the win here, as the losses of both Edwards and Gobert will be too great for the Wolves to overcome in this Tuesday night contest in the NBA.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
Affiliate Disclosure
ATS.io uses affiliate links. If you sign up through a link on this page, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Rankings are based on hands-on testing and published criteria, and affiliate relationships do not determine placement.
