Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets - 12/20/19 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets

Date: Friday, December 20, 2019

Location: Pepsi Center in Denver, CO

TV: Altitude

Odds/Point Spread: Denver -5.5

Total/Over-Under: 224

Pepsi Center is the venue where Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets (17-8, 1st in the Northwest Division) will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves (10-15, 5th in the Northwest Division) on Friday. Denver opens this matchup as 5.5 point favorites. The total opens at 224.

The Timberwolves are covering the spread 37.5% of the time, having gone 9-15-1 ATS. Denver is covering 47.8% of the time, going 11-12-2 against the spread.

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

12/18/2019 Karl-Anthony Towns C Knee Expected to be out until at least Dec 20
12/18/2019 Jarrett Culver SG Illness Expected to be out until at least Dec 20
12/17/2019 Jake Layman SF Toe Expected to be out until at least Dec 20

Key Denver Nuggets Injuries

12/18/2019 Torrey Craig SF Illness Game Time Decision

Player Spotlight

Karl-Anthony Towns comes into this contest averaging 26.5 points per game while playing 33.9 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 11.7 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 51% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 80%. Andrew Wiggins averages 25.1 points per game in 35.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.1 assists per contest and 5.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 75%.

Player Spotlight

Nikola Jokic averages 17.1 points per game while playing 31.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 10.1 rebounds per game and has 6.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Jamal Murray averages 17.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.4 rebounds per contest and 4.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota averages 114.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 7th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -3.5 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 24th. Behind the arc they shoot 33% which is good for 29th in the league. They average 46.2 rebounds per game and 22.8 assists per game, which ranks them 9th and 22nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 13th with 15.3 per game. The Timberwolves allow 117.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 27th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 21st and 26th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 47.1 rebounds a game which ranks 27th and they give up 24.2 assists per contest, which puts them in 17th place in the league. They force 14.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 13th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Denver is 23rd in the league with 106.8 points per game this year. They are 18th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 5.0. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 17th in the NBA. They are 10th in the league in rebounding with 46.2 boards per game, and 4th in assists per contest with 26.4. The Nuggets are 24th in turnovers per game with 13.9. The Nuggets surrender 101.8 points per contest, which ranks them 1st in the NBA. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 8th and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 11th with 23.6 assists allowed per contest and 8th with 44.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Nuggets are 10th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.4 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Timberwolves are 15th in the NBA in offensive rating with 108.9, and their defensive rating of 112.3 is ranked 23rd. In terms of pace they are 6th in the league with 103.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 22nd. As a team they are 20th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shots, ranking 4th in the league. Minnesota is 17th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 13th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Denver is 25th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 27th in the league. The Nuggets are 18th in the NBA in offensive rating with 108.3, and their defensive rating of 103.2 is ranked 3rd. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 97.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 24th. As a team they are 25th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 27th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Denver -5.5

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