Charles Barkley Changes WCF Prediction: ‘Mavs Are Bad Matchup For Timberwolves’

Following the Minnesota Timberwolves’ emotional Game 7 win over the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the second round of the playoffs, the NBA on TNT crew, including legend Charles Barkley, immediately picked Minnesota to defeat the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.

However, after having a few days to watch film and digest everything that has happened in the playoffs so far, Barkley has now backtracked on initially picking the Timberwolves to beat the Mavericks. During a guest appearance on Sirius XM NBA Radio’s “The Starting Lineup,” Barkley gave a simple explanation for now going with Dallas.

Charles Barkley Changes WCF Prediction: ‘Mavs Are Bad Matchup For Timberwolves’

“This is just a bad matchup for [the Timberwolves],” said Barkley, who claims he watched three hours of film in preparation of the Western Conference Finals. “I’m going with the Mavs and Celtics [to meet in the finals].”

Although the Timberwolves beat the Mavs three times in four tries during the regular season, the two teams haven’t met since the trade deadline. Not only were the Mavs missing Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in multiple matchups against Minnesota, but they also didn’t have P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford on the roster yet either.

The only team to win more games than the Mavs since the trade deadline is the Boston Celtics, who Dallas would likely face in the NBA Finals if it can get past a Minnesota defense that ranked No. 1 in the league in the regular season. Stay tuned to DallasBasketball.com and our Mavs Step Back Podcast for extensive coverage following Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.