Cleveland Cavaliers at Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Picks & Predictions 1/8/2018

Monday, January 8, 2018

Target Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Target Center to play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, January 8, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Cleveland as 2.5 point favorites.

The Cavaliers come into this game with an overall record of 26-13. They are 1st in the Central Division. They currently have a point differential of 2.8 as they are averaging 110.5 points per game while giving up 107.7 per contest. The Timberwolves have an overall mark of 25-16. They currently are 1st in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 108.0 points per contest and giving up 105.2, which is a point differential of 2.8.

Valuable Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 12-26-1 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 19-19-1 against the over/under

Important Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 18-21-2 against the spread

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 20-20-1 against the over/under

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

11/30/17 G Iman Shumpert Knee is out indefinitely
01/06/18 PG Derrick Rose Ankle is "?" Monday vs Minnesota

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

12/27/17 PG Jeff Teague Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Kevin Love comes into this contest averaging 19.8 points per game while playing 29.2 minutes per night so far this season for the Cavaliers. He pulls down 9.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is currently at 88%. Lebron James averages 27.6 points per game in 37.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 9.1 assists per contest and 8.2 rebounds per game for Cleveland. His field goal percentage is 56% for the year while his free throw percentage is 78%.

Player Spotlight

Andrew Wiggins averages 17.6 points per game while playing 36.3 minutes per contest this year for the Timberwolves. He grabs 4 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage currently is at 62%. Jimmy Butler averages 21.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 37.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.3 rebounds per contest and 5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 88%.

Useful Team Statistics

Cleveland averages 110.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 5th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.74 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 5th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 4th in the league. They average 42 rebounds per game and 23.4 assists per game, which ranks them 19th and 7th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 16th with 14.4 per game. The Cavaliers allow 107.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 22nd in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 24th and 21st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.1 rebounds a game which ranks 16th and they give up 25.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 30th place in the league. They force 14.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 11th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota is 7th in the league with 108 points per game this year. They are 7th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 2.78. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 26th in the NBA. They are 23rd in the league in rebounding with 41.5 boards per game, and 15th in assists per contest with 22.5. The Timberwolves are 29th in turnovers per game with 13.1. The Timberwolves surrender 105.2 points per contest, which ranks them 13th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 48% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 14th in those defensive statistics. They rank 23rd with 24 assists allowed per contest and 2nd with 41.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Timberwolves are 28th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 16.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers are 4th in the league in defensive rating with 110.7, and their offensive rating of 113.5 is ranked 5th. They are 14th in the NBA in pace with 97 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 4th. As a unit they are 3rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 2nd in the NBA. Cleveland is 17th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 3rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Minnesota is 29th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 4th in the NBA. The Timberwolves are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 109.4, and their offensive rating of 112.3 is ranked 10th. They are 23rd in the NBA in pace with 95.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 12th. As a unit they are 8th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 27% of their shot attempts, ranking 28th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Cleveland -2.5

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