Utah Jazz at Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Picks & Predictions 10/20/2017

Friday, October 20, 2017

Target Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Utah Jazz travel to Target Center to play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, October 20, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Minnesota as 5 point favorites.

The Jazz come into this game after finishing last season with an overall record of 51-31. They were 1st in the Northwest Division. They had a point differential of 3.9 as they averaged 100.7 points per game while giving up 96.8 per contest. The Timberwolves had an overall mark of 31-51 last year. They were 5th in the Northwest Division. They averaged 105.6 points per contest and gave up 106.7, which was a point differential of -1.1.

Valuable Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz were 35-43-4 against the spread last season

The Utah Jazz were 42-40-0 against the over/under last year

Important Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves were 37-45-0 against the spread last season

The Minnesota Timberwolves were 43-38-1 against the over/under last year

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

10/19/17 PG Raul Neto Leg is "?" Friday vs. Minnesota
10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder out indefinitely

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Ricky Rubio averaged 11.1 points per game in 32.9 minutes per contest last season. He averaged 9.1 assists per contest and 4.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage was 40% for the year while his free throw percentage was 89%. Rudy Gobert comes into this contest after averaging 14 points per game while playing 33.9 minutes per night last season. He pulled down 12.8 rebounds per game and dished out 1.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage was 66% while his free throw percentage was at 65%.

Player Spotlight

Jimmy Butler averaged 23.9 points per game last season and he saw the court an average of 37 minutes per contest. He also averaged 6.2 rebounds per contest and 5.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage was 46% and his free throw percentage was 87%. Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 25.1 points per game while playing 37 minutes per contest last year. He grabbed 12.3 rebounds per game and had 2.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage was 54% and his free throw percentage finished at 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Jazz allowed 96.8 points per game to their opponents which ranked them 1st in the league. They also allowed a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 4th and 17th in those defensive categories. Opponents averaged 40.2 rebounds a game which ranked 1st, and they gave up 17.8 assists per contest which put them in 1st place in the league. They forced 12.1 turnovers per game which ranked them 2nd in the league. Utah averaged 100.7 points per contest last season, which ranked them 28th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin was 3.94 and their shooting percentage was 47% as a team, which had them ranked 9th. Behind the arc they shot 37% which was good for 8th in the league. They averaged 43.2 rebounds per game and 20.1 assists per game, which ranked them 20th and 28th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they ranked 19th with 13.6 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Timberwolves surrendered 106.7 points per contest, which ranked them 18th in the NBA. Their defense allowed a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 28th and 23rd in those defensive statistics. They ranked 18th with 23.1 assists allowed per contest, and 2nd with 40.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Timberwolves were 18th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per game last season. Minnesota was 13th in the league with 105.6 points per game last year. They were 8th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin was -1.11. They shot 35% from 3-point range, which was good for 20th in the NBA. They were 25th in the league in rebounding with 42.4 boards per game and 9th in assists per contest with 23.7. The Timberwolves were 13th in turnovers per game with 14.

Advanced Statistics

The Jazz were 12th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.6, and their defensive rating of 105.3 was ranked 28th last season. In terms of pace they were 30th in the league with 91.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% was 8th. As a team they were 10th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shot 3 pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 11th in the league. Utah was 12th in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season was 49%, which was 28th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Minnesota was 13th in the league in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year was 54%, which was 2nd in the NBA. The Timberwolves were 10th in the league in defensive rating with 112, and their offensive rating of 110.8 was ranked 4th. They were 25th in the NBA in pace with 94.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% was 16th. As a unit they were 15th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shot 3-pointers on 25% of their shot attempts, ranking 30th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Minnesota -5

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