Miami Heat at Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Game Picks 4/5/2019

Friday, April 5, 2019

Target Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat head to Target Center to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, April 5, 2019. The opening line for this game has Miami as 1.5 point favorites.

The Heat head into this matchup with a mark of 38-40. They are 2nd in the Southeast Division. They have a point differential of -0.2 as they average 105.6 points per contest while giving up 105.7 per game. The Timberwolves have an overall mark of 35-43. They currently are 5th in the Northwest Division. They total 112.7 points per contest and give up 113.9, which is a point differential of -1.2.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 41-35-2 against the spread this season

The Miami Heat are 39-37-0 against the over/under this year

Important Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 37-41-0 against the spread this season

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 42-36-0 against the over/under this year

Key Miami Heat Injuries

04/03/19 SF Josh Richardson Leg left last game, is questionable Friday vs Minnesota

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

04/03/19 F Taj Gibson Calf is questionable Friday vs Miami
03/21/19 PG Derrick Rose Elbow is out for season
03/21/19 PG Jeff Teague Foot is out for season
03/20/19 SF Robert Covington Knee is out for season

Player Spotlight

Hassan Whiteside comes into this game averaging 12.3 points per contest while playing 23.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 11.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 0.8 assists per game. His FG percentage is 56% while his free throw percentage is 45%. Goran Dragic averages 14.5 points per contest in 27.3 minutes per game. He averages 4.6 assists per game and 2.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% for the season while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

Andrew Wiggins scores 17.9 points per contest while playing 34.9 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.9 rebounds per contest and has 2.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 70%. Karl-Anthony Towns averages 24.4 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 33.1 minutes per game. He also brings in 12.5 rebounds per game and has 3.4 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

Miami averages 105.6 points per contest, which is 26th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -0.2 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 22nd. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 18th in the NBA. They average 46.3 boards per contest and 24.2 assists per game, which ranks them 9th and 17th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 8th with 14.7 per game. The Heat allow 105.7 points per contest, which is 3rd in the NBA. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 18th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 43.8 rebounds a game which ranks 7th, and they allow 23.2 assists per game which puts them in 4th place in the league. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 18th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota is 13th in the NBA with 112.7 points per contest this season. They are 17th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is -1.22. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 21st in the league. They are 16th in the NBA in rebounding with 45.2 boards per contest and 15th in assists per game with 24.5. The Timberwolves are 27th in turnovers per contest with 13.1. The Timberwolves give up 113.9 points per game, which ranks them 24th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 21st and 30th in those defensive statistics. They rank 28th with 26.2 dimes allowed per game and 18th with 45.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Timberwolves are 20th in the league in forcing turnovers with 14.7 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 26th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.5, and their defensive rating of 107.7 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 24th in the league with 98 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 20th. As a team they are 28th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 13th in the league. Miami is 7th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 26th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Minnesota is 28th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 7th in the NBA. The Timberwolves are 11th in the league in defensive rating with 112.8, and their offensive rating of 111.6 is ranked 24th. They are 15th in the NBA in pace with 100.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 26th. As a unit they are 22nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 26th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Miami -1.5

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