Portland Blazers at Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Picks & Predictions 11/16/2018

Friday, November 16, 2018

Target Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Portland Blazers travel to Target Center to play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, November 16, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Portland as 1 point favorites.

The Blazers have a record of 10-4. They are 1st in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 8.4 as they average 115.9 points per game while giving up 107.6 per contest. The Timberwolves have an overall mark of 6-9. They currently are 5th in the Northwest Division. They total 110.9 points per contest and give up 116.2, which is a point differential of -5.3.

Valuable Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 10-4-0 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 7-7-0 against the over/under

Important Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 7-8-0 against the spread

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 6-9-0 against the over/under

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

11/15/18 G Seth Curry Knee left last game, is questionable Friday vs Minnesota
11/13/18 SF Maurice Harkless Knee is out indefinitely

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

11/14/18 PG Derrick Rose Knee is questionable Friday vs Portland
10/20/18 PG Jerryd Bayless Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard comes into this contest averaging 26.4 points per game while playing 34.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 5.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 94%. CJ McCollum averages 20.6 points per game in 32.8 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.6 assists per contest and 3.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

Karl-Anthony Towns averages 20.6 points per game while playing 33.7 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 11.9 rebounds per game and has 2.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 92%. Andrew Wiggins averages 17.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.1 rebounds per contest and 2.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 75%.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland averages 115.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 7th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 8.4 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 10th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 6th in the league. They average 51.8 rebounds per game and 20.6 assists per game, which ranks them 1st and 27th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 18th with 14.1 per game. The Blazers allow 107.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 7th in the league. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 1st and 11th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.6 rebounds a game which ranks 16th and they give up 22.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 6th place in the league. They force 11.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 1st in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota is 14th in the league with 110.9 points per game this year. They are 26th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -5.3. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 8th in the NBA. They are 21st in the league in rebounding with 43.8 boards per game, and 18th in assists per contest with 22.9. The Timberwolves are 23rd in turnovers per game with 13.6. The Timberwolves surrender 116.2 points per contest, which ranks them 28th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 22nd and 26th in those defensive statistics. They rank 28th with 25.9 assists allowed per contest and 28th with 49.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Timberwolves are 20th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.0 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 3rd in the league in defensive rating with 107, and their offensive rating of 115.3 is ranked 8th. They are 16th in the NBA in pace with 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 10th. As a unit they are 5th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 15th in the NBA. Portland is 18th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 10.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 29th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Minnesota is 26th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 7th in the NBA. The Timberwolves are 15th in the league in defensive rating with 114.6, and their offensive rating of 109.4 is ranked 30th. They are 10th in the NBA in pace with 101.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 28th. As a unit they are 23rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 21st in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Minnesota +1

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald