San Antonio's rim pressure meets a Minnesota offense that has already redistributed its creation across several handlers. Sacramento can create through its starters, yet its recent games have turned on what happens after an opponent answers. Both contests should be decided by repeated possessions and defensive stops rather than the first scoring run.
Minnesota faces Wembanyama with Gobert at the rim, while Ball, McDaniels, Dosunmu and Hyland can move the ball after the initial pressure. Edwards and DiVincenzo missed the Clippers game and remain out; those same remaining creators produced a strong response without them. San Antonio's early attacks can build a lead, but Minnesota has shown enough secondary handling and defensive rebounding to keep the final gap competitive. That's why I'm siding with Minnesota.
Memphis has several ways to answer Acuff and Sabonis. Jerome and Pippen are listed questionable after both played against Portland, while Post left that game early; Boozer's passing, Spencer's handling and the Edey–Stewart frontcourt already supplied other routes. Sacramento's Murray, Cardwell, Raynaud and Simmons remain out after also missing its last game, leaving heavy work on its starters. When Sacramento drew level in the previous meeting, Memphis scored again and finished the next possessions; its recent Portland win showed that response can come from more than one player. That's why I'm siding with Memphis.
