Minnesota Timberwolves at Utah Jazz NBA Picks & Predictions 3/2/2018

Friday, March 2, 2018

Vivint Smart Home Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves head to Vivint Smart Home Arena to take on the Utah Jazz on Friday, March 2, 2018. The opening line for this game has Utah as 6.5 point favorites.

The Timberwolves come into this game with an overall record of 38-26. They are 1st in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 3.0 as they are averaging 109.9 points per game while giving up 106.9 per contest. The Jazz have an overall mark of 31-30. They currently are 5th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 102.7 points per contest and giving up 101.4, which is a point differential of 1.3.

Valuable Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 30-32-2 against the spread

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 35-28-1 against the over/under

Important Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 31-30-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 28-32-1 against the over/under

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

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

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder is out indefinitely
01/13/18 F Thabo Sefolosha Knee is out for season

Player Spotlight

Karl-Anthony Towns comes into this game averaging 20.3 points per contest while playing 35.2 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 12.3 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 55% while his free throw percentage is 86%. Andrew Wiggins averages 17.7 points per contest in 36.1 minutes per game this year. He averages 1.8 assists per game and 4.1 rebounds per contest for Minnesota. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 64%.

Player Spotlight

Donovan Mitchell has scored 19.6 points per contest while playing 32.4 minutes per game this season for the Jazz. He hauls in 3.5 rebounds per contest and has 3.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. Rudy Gobert averages 12.7 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 31.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 10 rebounds per game and 1.4 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 60% and his free throw percentage is 68%.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota averages 109.9 points per contest this year, which is 6th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 3.08 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 4th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 22nd in the NBA. They average 41.9 boards per contest and 22.8 assists per game, which ranks them 24th and 14th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 29th with 12.5 per game. The Timberwolves allow 106.9 points per contest which is 18th in the NBA. They also surrender a 48% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 20th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 41.4 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd, and they allow 23.9 assists per game which puts them in 21st place in the league. They force 15.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 28th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 25th in the NBA with 102.7 points per contest this season. They are 17th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 1.34. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 7th in the league. They are 22nd in the NBA in rebounding with 42.1 boards per contest and 25th in assists per game with 21.4. The Jazz are 14th in turnovers per contest with 14.5. The Jazz give up 101.4 points per game, which ranks them 3rd in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 13th and 23rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 20.3 dimes allowed per game and 9th with 42.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Jazz are 23rd in the league in forcing turnovers with 15 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Timberwolves are 3rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 114.1, and their defensive rating of 110.9 is ranked 5th. In terms of pace they are 23rd in the league with 95.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 10th. As a team they are 7th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 26% of their shots, ranking 29th in the league. Minnesota is 30th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 2nd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 12th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 19th in the NBA. The Jazz are 18th in the league in defensive rating with 105.9, and their offensive rating of 107.3 is ranked 27th. They are 26th in the NBA in pace with 95.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 14th. As a unit they are 13th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 10th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Utah -6.5

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