Toronto Raptors at Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Picks & Predictions 1/20/2018

Saturday, January 20, 2018

Target Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Toronto Raptors travel to Target Center to play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, January 20, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Minnesota as 3.5 point favorites.

The Raptors head into this matchup with a mark of 30-13. They are 2nd in the Atlantic Division. They currently have a point differential of 7.7 as they are averaging 112.0 points per contest while giving up 104.3 per game. The Timberwolves have an overall mark of 29-18. They currently are 1st in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 108.4 points per contest and giving up 105.0, which is a point differential of 3.4.

Valuable Toronto Raptors Betting Trends

The Toronto Raptors are 24-19-0 against the spread

The Toronto Raptors are 23-20-0 against the over/under

Important Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 22-23-2 against the spread

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 23-23-1 against the over/under

Key Toronto Raptors Injuries

01/17/18 PG Fred VanVleet Knee is "?" Friday vs San Antonio

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

DeMar DeRozan averages 25.2 points per game in 34.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5 assists per contest and 4.1 rebounds per game for Toronto. His field goal percentage is 48% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%. Serge Ibaka comes into this contest averaging 13.4 points per game while playing 27.9 minutes per night so far this season for the Raptors. He pulls down 6.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 0.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is currently at 76%.

Player Spotlight

Jimmy Butler averages 21.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 36.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.4 rebounds per contest and 5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 88%. Andrew Wiggins averages 17.5 points per game while playing 36.1 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 43% and his free throw percentage currently is at 63%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Raptors allow 104.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 9th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 9th and 5th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.1 rebounds a game which ranks 8th, and they give up 22.3 assists per contest which puts them in 12th place in the league. They force 15.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 26th in the league. Toronto averages 112 points per contest this season, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 7.67 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 7th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 26th in the league. They average 43.3 rebounds per game and 22.8 assists per game, which ranks them 16th and 12th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 25th with 13.7 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Timberwolves surrender 105 points per contest, which ranks them 11th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 29th and 15th in those defensive statistics. They rank 22nd with 23.7 assists allowed per contest, and 4th with 41.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Timberwolves are 28th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 16 per game this season. Minnesota is 6th in the league with 108.4 points per game this year. They are 5th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 3.43. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 23rd in the NBA. They are 24th in the league in rebounding with 41.7 boards per game and 11th in assists per contest with 22.8. The Timberwolves are 29th in turnovers per game with 12.7.

Advanced Statistics

The Raptors are 3rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.3, and their defensive rating of 105.6 is ranked 27th. In terms of pace they are 10th in the league with 98.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 7th. As a team they are 5th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 8th in the league. Toronto is 27th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 25th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Minnesota is 30th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 4th in the league. The Timberwolves are 4th in the NBA in offensive rating with 112.9, and their defensive rating of 109.4 is ranked 9th. In terms of pace they are 24th in the league with 95.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 10th. As a team they are 8th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 27% of their shots, ranking 29th in the league.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Minnesota -3.5

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