Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Blazers - 12/21/19 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction
Game: Minnesota Timberwolves vs Portland Trail Blazers
Date: Saturday, December 21, 2019
Location: Moda Center in Portland, OR
TV: NBC Sports Northwest
Odds/Point Spread: Portland -2
Total/Over-Under: 224
Moda Center is the venue where Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers (12-16, 4th in the Northwest Division) will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves (10-16, 5th in the Northwest Division) on Saturday. Portland opens this contest as 2 point favorites. The O/U opens at 224.
The Timberwolves are covering 36.0% of the time, having gone 9-16-1 ATS. Portland is covering 44.4% of the time, going 12-15-1 against the spread.
Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries
12/19/2019 Karl-Anthony Towns C Knee Game Time Decision
12/19/2019 Jarrett Culver SG Illness Game Time Decision
12/19/2019 Jake Layman SF Toe Game Time Decision
Key Portland Trail Blazers Injuries
12/19/2019 Mario Hezonja SF Back Game Time Decision
12/9/2019 Jusuf Nurkic C Lower Leg Expected to be out until at least Feb 15
12/7/2019 Rodney Hood SG Achilles Out for the season
11/12/2019 Zach Collins PF Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Mar 15
Player Spotlight
Andrew Wiggins comes into this game averaging 25.1 points per contest while playing 35.3 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 75%. Karl-Anthony Towns averages 26.5 points per contest in 33.9 minutes per game. He averages 4.4 assists per game and 11.7 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 51% for the season while his free throw percentage is 80%.
Player Spotlight
Damian Lillard scores 26.5 points per contest while playing 36.7 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.3 rebounds per contest and has 7.6 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 90%. CJ McCollum averages 22.0 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 36.4 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.5 rebounds per game and has 3.7 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 82%.
Useful Team Statistics
Minnesota averages 114.1 points per contest, which is 7th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -3.5 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 24th. From 3-point territory they shoot 33%, which is good for 29th in the NBA. They average 46.2 boards per contest and 22.8 assists per game, which ranks them 9th and 22nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 14th with 15.3 per game. The Timberwolves allow 117.7 points per contest, which is 27th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 21st and 26th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 47.1 rebounds a game which ranks 27th, and they allow 24.2 assists per game which puts them in 17th place in the league. They force 14.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 13th in the NBA.
Useful Team Statistics
Portland is 8th in the NBA with 112.6 points per contest this season. They are 15th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -1.46. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 11th in the league. They are 7th in the NBA in rebounding with 46.5 boards per contest and 30th in assists per game with 20.2. The Blazers are 27th in turnovers per contest with 13.5. The Blazers give up 114.0 points per game, which ranks them 22nd in the league. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 10th and 13th in those defensive statistics. They rank 10th with 23.3 dimes allowed per game and 29th with 48.3 boards surrendered per contest. The Blazers are 6th in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.4 per contest this year.
Advanced Statistics
The Timberwolves are 15th in the league in defensive rating with 112.3, and their offensive rating of 108.9 is ranked 23rd. They are 6th in the NBA in pace with 103.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 22nd. As a unit they are 20th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shot attempts, ranking 4th in the NBA. Minnesota is 18th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 12th in the NBA.
Advanced Statistics
Portland is 29th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 21st in the league. The Blazers are 9th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.1, and their defensive rating of 111.5 is ranked 21st. In terms of pace they are 11th in the league with 101.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 19th. As a team they are 16th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 19th in the league.
Who will win tonight's Timberwolves/Blazers NBA game against the spread?
Josh's Pick: Take Minnesota +2
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Additional Resources:
Minnesota Timberwolves - Twitter