Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Picks & Predictions 12/3/2018

Monday, December 3, 2018

Target Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Rockets head to Target Center to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, December 3, 2018. The opening line for this game has Houston as 2.5 point favorites.

The Rockets have a record of 11-11. They are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They have a point differential of 0.3 as they average 110.0 points per game while giving up 109.8 per contest. The Timberwolves have an overall record of 11-12 this season. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They average 109.8 points per game and surrender 110.5, good for a point differential of -0.7.

Valuable Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 8-13-0 against the spread this season

The Houston Rockets are 13-8-0 against the over/under this year

Important Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 12-10-0 against the spread this season

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 7-15-0 against the over/under this year

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

11/15/18 SF Carmelo Anthony Possible Trade is out indefinitely
10/20/18 PG Brandon Knight Knee is out indefinitely

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

10/20/18 PG Jerryd Bayless Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

James Harden comes into this game averaging 30.6 points per contest while playing 36.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5.7 rebounds per contest and distributes 8.7 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 83%. Chris Paul averages 17.3 points per contest in 34.1 minutes per game. He averages 8.1 assists per game and 4.7 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% for the season while his free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Andrew Wiggins scores 15.1 points per contest while playing 32.7 minutes per game. He hauls in 3.6 rebounds per contest and has 2.3 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 37% and his free throw percentage is at 77%. Karl-Anthony Towns averages 20.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 33.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 12.0 rebounds per game and has 2.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 110.0 points per contest, which is 16th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 0.3 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 20th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 20th in the NBA. They average 41.4 boards per contest and 21.4 assists per game, which ranks them 27th and 27th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 23rd with 13.6 per game. The Rockets allow 109.8 points per contest, which is 11th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 26th and 13th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42.8 rebounds a game which ranks 7th, and they allow 21.4 assists per game which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 14.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 12th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota is 17th in the NBA with 109.8 points per contest this season. They are 25th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -0.7. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 12th in the league. They are 20th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.0 boards per contest and 19th in assists per game with 23.2. The Timberwolves are 25th in turnovers per contest with 13.3. The Timberwolves give up 110.5 points per game, which ranks them 14th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 14th and 24th in those defensive statistics. They rank 28th with 25.4 dimes allowed per game and 25th with 47.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Timberwolves are 22nd in the league in forcing turnovers with 15.1 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.6, and their defensive rating of 113.3 is ranked 25th. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 96 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 4th. As a team they are 7th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 49% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league. Houston is 16th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 9th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Minnesota is 28th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 15th in the league. The Timberwolves are 12th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.1, and their defensive rating of 110.8 is ranked 18th. In terms of pace they are 16th in the league with 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 26th. As a team they are 23rd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 22nd in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Houston -2.5

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