Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets NBA Picks & Predictions 4/5/2018

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Pepsi Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to Pepsi Center to play the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, April 5, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Denver as 1 point favorites.

The Timberwolves head into this matchup with a mark of 44-34. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.9 as they are averaging 109.6 points per contest while giving up 107.7 per game. The Nuggets have an overall mark of 43-35. They currently are 5th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 110.2 points per contest and giving up 108.9, which is a point differential of 1.3.

Valuable Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 33-42-3 against the spread

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 44-33-1 against the over/under

Important Denver Nuggets Betting Trends

The Denver Nuggets are 35-40-3 against the spread

The Denver Nuggets are 40-37-1 against the over/under

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

04/04/18 G Jeff Teague Knee is "?" Thursday vs Denver
02/24/18 F Jimmy Butler Knee is out indefinitely

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

03/17/18 G Gary Harris Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Karl-Anthony Towns comes into this contest averaging 21.2 points per game while playing 35.5 minutes per night so far this season for the Timberwolves. He pulls down 12.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is currently at 86%. Andrew Wiggins averages 18 points per game in 36.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.9 assists per contest and 4.3 rebounds per game for Minnesota. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 65%.

Player Spotlight

Paul Millsap averages 15.1 points per game while playing 29.6 minutes per contest this year for the Nuggets. He grabs 6.5 rebounds per game and has 2.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage currently is at 70%. Nikola Jokic averages 18.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 10.5 rebounds per contest and 6 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota averages 109.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 7th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.86 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 4th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 19th in the league. They average 41.7 rebounds per game and 22.6 assists per game, which ranks them 25th and 18th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 29th with 12.6 per game. The Timberwolves allow 107.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 18th in the league. They also allow a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 29th and 21st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.6 rebounds a game which ranks 2nd and they give up 24.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 22nd place in the league. They force 15.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 26th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver is 6th in the league with 110.2 points per game this year. They are 9th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 1.26. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 5th in the NBA. They are 8th in the league in rebounding with 44.5 boards per game, and 5th in assists per contest with 25.1. The Nuggets are 7th in turnovers per game with 15.1. The Nuggets surrender 108.9 points per contest, which ranks them 24th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 48% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 30th and 29th in those defensive statistics. They rank 26th with 25 assists allowed per contest and 1st with 41.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 9th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 13.9 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Timberwolves are 4th in the league in defensive rating with 111.5, and their offensive rating of 113.4 is ranked 3rd. They are 21st in the NBA in pace with 96.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 13th. 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 30th in the NBA. Minnesota is 29th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 3rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 8th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 2nd in the league. The Nuggets are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.5, and their defensive rating of 111.2 is ranked 5th. In terms of pace they are 15th in the league with 97 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 6th. As a team they are 6th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Minnesota +1

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