Cleveland Cavaliers at Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Picks & Predictions 10/19/2018

Friday, October 19, 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 Friday, October 19, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Minnesota as 9.5 point favorites.

The Cavaliers come into this game after finishing last season with an overall record of 50-32. They were 1st in the Central Division. They had a point differential of 1.0 as they averaged 110.9 points per game while giving up 109.9 per contest. The Timberwolves had an overall record of 47-35 last season. They were 4th in the Northwest Division. They averaged 109.5 points per game and surrendered 107.3, good for a point differential of 2.2.

Valuable Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers were 41-59-2 against the spread last season

The Cleveland Cavaliers were 50-51-0 against the over/under last year

Important Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves were 40-44-3 against the spread last season

The Minnesota Timberwolves were 48-38-0 against the over/under last year

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

10/17/18 G JR Smith Elbow is questionable Friday vs Minnesota
10/17/18 F Larry Nance Jr. Ankle is questionable Friday vs Minnesota

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Kevin Love comes into this contest after averaging 17.6 points per game while playing 28.0 minutes per night last season. He pulled down 9.3 rebounds per game and dished out 1.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage was 46% while his free throw percentage finished at 88%. Tristan Thompson averaged 5.8 points per game in 20.2 minutes per contest last season. He averaged 0.6 assists per contest and 6.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage was 56% for the year while his free throw percentage was 54%.

Player Spotlight

Andrew Wiggins averaged 17.7 points per game while playing 36.3 minutes per contest last year. He grabbed 4.4 rebounds per game and had 2.0 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage was 44% and his free throw percentage was at 64%. Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 21.3 points per game last season and he saw the court an average of 35.6 minutes per contest. He also averaged 12.3 rebounds per contest and 2.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage was 55% and his free throw percentage was 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

Cleveland averaged 110.9 points per contest last season, which ranked them 5th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin was 0.9 and their shooting percentage was 48% as a team, which had them ranked 4th. Behind the arc they shot 37% which was good for 6th in the league. They averaged 42.1 rebounds per game and 23.4 assists per game, which ranked them 23rd and 12th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they ranked 21st with 13.7 per game. The Cavaliers allowed 109.9 points per game to their opponents which ranked them 26th in the league. They also allowed a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 28th and 21st in those defensive categories. Opponents averaged 43.6 rebounds a game which ranked 17th and they gave up 25.9 assists per contest, which put them in 28th place in the league. They forced 13.5 turnovers per game which ranked them 5th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota was 8th in the league with 109.5 points per game last year. They were 5th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin was 2.2. They shot 36% from 3-point range, which was good for 19th in the NBA. They were 24th in the league in rebounding with 42.0 boards per game, and 18th in assists per contest with 22.7. The Timberwolves were 29th in turnovers per game with 12.5. The Timberwolves surrendered 107.3 points per contest, which ranked them 17th in the NBA. Their defense allowed a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 18th in those defensive statistics. They ranked 21st with 23.9 assists allowed per contest and 3rd with 41.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Timberwolves were 27th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.1 per game last season.

Advanced Statistics

The Cavaliers were 5th in the league in defensive rating with 111.9, and their offensive rating of 112.9 was ranked 29th. They were 12th in the NBA in pace with 98 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% was 3rd. As a unit they were 3rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 4th in the NBA. Cleveland was 20th in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year was 54%, which was 3rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Minnesota was 30th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 11.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season was 54%, which was 4th in the league. The Timberwolves were 4th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.4, and their defensive rating of 111.1 was ranked 27th. In terms of pace they were 24th in the league with 96 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% was 13th. As a team they were 9th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shot 3-pointers on 26% of their shots, ranking 30th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Cleveland -9.5

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