Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Picks & Predictions 3/18/2018

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Target Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Rockets travel to Target Center to play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, March 18, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 6.5 point favorites.

The Rockets come into this game with an overall record of 54-14. They are 1st in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 8.9 as they are averaging 113.5 points per game while giving up 104.6 per contest. The Timberwolves have an overall mark of 40-29. They currently are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 109.8 points per contest and giving up 107.2, which is a point differential of 2.6.

Valuable Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 36-31-1 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 29-38-1 against the over/under

Important Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 32-35-2 against the spread

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 38-30-1 against the over/under

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

03/15/18 F Ryan Anderson Hip is "?" Saturday vs New Orleans

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

02/24/18 F Jimmy Butler Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Chris Paul averages 18.7 points per game in 31.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 8 assists per contest and 5.4 rebounds per game for Houston. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 92%. Eric Gordon comes into this contest averaging 18.4 points per game while playing 31.4 minutes per night so far this season for the Rockets. He pulls down 2.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is currently at 82%.

Player Spotlight

Karl-Anthony Towns averages 20.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 35.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 12.2 rebounds per contest and 2.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 55% and his free throw percentage is 86%. Andrew Wiggins averages 17.9 points per game while playing 36.2 minutes per contest this year for the Timberwolves. He grabs 4.1 rebounds per game and has 1.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage currently is at 64%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Rockets allow 104.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 11th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 18th and 10th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.2 rebounds a game which ranks 2nd, and they give up 22.8 assists per contest which puts them in 11th place in the league. They force 14.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 18th in the league. Houston averages 113.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 8.96 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 13th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 14th in the league. They average 43.5 rebounds per game and 21.7 assists per game, which ranks them 17th and 24th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 18th with 14 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Timberwolves surrender 107.2 points per contest, which ranks them 17th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 48% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 16th in those defensive statistics. They rank 19th with 23.8 assists allowed per contest, and 3rd with 41.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Timberwolves are 26th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.3 per game this season. Minnesota is 6th in the league with 109.8 points per game this year. They are 3rd in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 2.65. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 20th in the NBA. They are 24th in the league in rebounding with 41.9 boards per game and 16th in assists per contest with 22.7. The Timberwolves are 30th in turnovers per game with 12.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 1st in the NBA in offensive rating with 115.7, and their defensive rating of 106.5 is ranked 24th. In terms of pace they are 13th in the league with 97.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 2nd. As a team they are 2nd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 50% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league. Houston is 20th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 15th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Minnesota is 29th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 3rd in the NBA. The Timberwolves are 4th in the league in defensive rating with 111.1, and their offensive rating of 113.9 is ranked 5th. They are 24th in the NBA in pace with 95.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 11th. As a unit they are 8th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 26% of their shot attempts, ranking 29th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Minnesota +6.5

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