Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Picks & Predictions 12/1/2017

Friday, December 1, 2017

Chesapeake Energy Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to Chesapeake Energy Arena to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, December 1, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Oklahoma City as 3.5 point favorites.

The Timberwolves head into this matchup with a mark of 13-9. They are 2nd in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.6 as they are averaging 107.8 points per contest while giving up 107.2 per game. The Thunder have an overall mark of 8-12. They currently are 5th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 102.3 points per contest and giving up 99.3, which is a point differential of 3.0.

Valuable Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 9-11-2 against the spread

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 10-11-1 against the over/under

Important Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 7-12-1 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 7-13-0 against the over/under

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

11/30/17 PG Jeff Teague Achilles is "?" Friday vs Oklahoma City
11/30/17 F Nemanja Bjelica Foot is "?" Friday vs Oklahoma City

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

11/30/17 PG Russell Westbrook Hand injured last game, is probable Friday vs Minnesota

Player Spotlight

Jimmy Butler averages 17.5 points per game in 36.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 4.5 assists per contest and 5.5 rebounds per game for Minnesota. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%. Andrew Wiggins comes into this contest averaging 19 points per game while playing 36.8 minutes per night so far this season for the Timberwolves. He pulls down 4.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is currently at 64%.

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook averages 22.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 35.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 9.2 rebounds per contest and 9.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 72%. Paul George averages 20.5 points per game while playing 36.9 minutes per contest this year for the Thunder. He grabs 5.9 rebounds per game and has 3.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage currently is at 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Timberwolves allow 107.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 21st in the league. They also allow a 48% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 30th and 14th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 40.8 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd, and they give up 24.4 assists per contest which puts them in 25th place in the league. They force 15.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 14th in the league. Minnesota averages 107.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 10th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.55 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 8th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 15th in the league. They average 43.1 rebounds per game and 22.7 assists per game, which ranks them 16th and 15th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 25th with 14.3 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Thunder surrender 99.3 points per contest, which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 8th and 10th in those defensive statistics. They rank 7th with 21.3 assists allowed per contest, and 11th with 42.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Thunder are 30th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 18.6 per game this season. Oklahoma City is 22nd in the league with 102.3 points per game this year. They are 27th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 3.05. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 25th in the NBA. They are 21st in the league in rebounding with 42.7 boards per game and 25th in assists per contest with 20.8. The Thunder are 19th in turnovers per game with 14.9.

Advanced Statistics

The Timberwolves are 5th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.7, and their defensive rating of 110.2 is ranked 5th. In terms of pace they are 18th in the league with 96.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 13th. As a team they are 9th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 27% of their shots, ranking 29th in the league. Minnesota is 28th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 55%, which is 2nd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Oklahoma City is 20th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 18th in the NBA. The Thunder are 21st in the league in defensive rating with 102.6, and their offensive rating of 105.7 is ranked 28th. They are 20th in the NBA in pace with 96.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 25th. As a unit they are 26th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 9th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Timberwolves/Thunder NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Minnesota +3.5

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