Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks NBA Picks & Predictions 10/20/2018

Saturday, October 20, 2018

American Airlines Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to American Airlines Center to play the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, October 20, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Minnesota as 3.5 point favorites.

The Timberwolves head into this matchup with a mark of 0-1. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of -4 as they average 108 points per contest while giving up 112 per game. The Mavericks have an overall record of 0-1 this season. They are 4th in the Southwest Division. They average 100 points per game and surrender 121, good for a point differential of -21.

Valuable Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 0-1-0 against the spread

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 1-0-0 against the over/under

Important Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

The Dallas Mavericks are 0-1-0 against the spread

The Dallas Mavericks are 1-0-0 against the over/under

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

10/19/18 PG Devin Harris Hamstring left last game, is questionable Saturday vs Minnesota
10/19/18 F Harrison Barnes Hamstring is questionable Saturday vs Minnesota
10/12/18 F Dirk Nowitzki Foot is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jimmy Butler averages 23 points per game in 32 minutes per contest. He averages 3 assists per contest and 7 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 39% for the year while his free throw percentage is 80%. Andrew Wiggins comes into this contest averaging 20 points per game while playing 37 minutes per night. He pulls down 6 rebounds per game and dishes out 3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is at 100%.

Player Spotlight

Wesley Matthews averages 15 points per game and he sees the court an average of 34 minutes per contest. He also averages 2 rebounds per contest and 5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 83%. Dennis Smith averages 13 points per game while playing 28 minutes per contest. He grabs 2 rebounds per game and has 5 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 32%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Timberwolves allow 112 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 19th in the league. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 44% average from behind the arc, ranking them 12th and 28th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 52 rebounds a game which ranks 22nd, and they give up 22 assists per contest which puts them in 19th place in the league. They force 12 turnovers per game which ranks them 11th in the league. Minnesota averages 108 points per contest this season, which ranks them 16th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -4 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a team, which has them ranked 21st. Behind the arc they shoot 32% which is good for 17th in the league. They average 46 rebounds per game and 20 assists per contest, which ranks them 17th and 24th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 24th with 11 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Mavericks surrender 121 points per contest, which ranks them 25th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 54% shooting percentage and a 56% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 30th in those defensive statistics. They rank 29th with 35 assists allowed per contest, and 8th with 44 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mavericks are 9th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 11 per game. Dallas is 27th in the league with 100 points per game this year. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is -21. They shoot 30% from 3-point range, which is good for 19th in the NBA. They are 27th in the league in rebounding with 38 boards per game and 6th in assists per contest with 28. The Mavericks are 28th in turnovers per game with 9.

Advanced Statistics

The Timberwolves are 8th in the league in defensive rating with 116.8, and their offensive rating of 112.7 is ranked 26th. They are 26th in the NBA in pace with 95.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 46% is 22nd. As a unit they are 18th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 21% of their shot attempts, ranking 29th in the NBA. Minnesota is 25th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 9.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 10.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 17th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Dallas is 28th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 8.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 66%, which is 1st in the NBA. The Mavericks are 16th in the league in defensive rating with 130.6, and their offensive rating of 108 is ranked 30th. They are 29th in the NBA in pace with 92.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 19th. As a unit they are 20th in the league in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Dallas +3.5

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