San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball Betting Tips 1/18/2019

Friday, January 18, 2019

Target Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The San Antonio Spurs travel to Target Center to play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, January 18, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Minnesota as 1.5 point favorites.

The Spurs head into this matchup with a mark of 26-20. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They have a point differential of 2.4 as they average 111.7 points per contest while giving up 109.3 per game. The Timberwolves have an overall mark of 21-23. They currently are 5th in the Northwest Division. They total 111.5 points per contest and give up 111.9, which is a point differential of -0.4.

Valuable San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends

The San Antonio Spurs are 26-18-1 against the spread

The San Antonio Spurs are 25-20-0 against the over/under

Important Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 23-21-0 against the spread

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 23-21-0 against the over/under

Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries

10/08/18 G Dejounte Murray ACL is out for season

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

01/16/19 PG Tyus Jones Ankle is out indefinitely
01/03/19 SF Robert Covington Ankle is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

LaMarcus Aldridge averages 20.5 points per game in 32.5 minutes per contest. He averages 2.4 assists per contest and 8.5 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 51% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%. DeMar DeRozan comes into this contest averaging 21.7 points per game while playing 35.5 minutes per night. He pulls down 6.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is at 82%.

Player Spotlight

Andrew Wiggins averages 17.8 points per game and he sees the court an average of 34.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.2 rebounds per contest and 2.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 74%. Karl-Anthony Towns averages 22.2 points per game while playing 33.5 minutes per contest. He grabs 12.4 rebounds per game and has 2.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Spurs allow 109.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 11th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 17th and 16th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.0 rebounds a game which ranks 11th, and they give up 24.5 assists per contest which puts them in 18th place in the league. They force 12.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the league. San Antonio averages 111.7 points per contest this season, which ranks them 14th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.4 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a team, which has them ranked 5th. Behind the arc they shoot 40% which is good for 1st in the league. They average 44.3 rebounds per game and 24.8 assists per contest, which ranks them 22nd and 11th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 30th with 12.1 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Timberwolves surrender 111.9 points per contest, which ranks them 19th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 18th and 30th in those defensive statistics. They rank 28th with 25.9 assists allowed per contest, and 24th with 46.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Timberwolves are 22nd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.0 per game. Minnesota is 15th in the league with 111.5 points per game this year. They are 23rd in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -0.4. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 14th in the NBA. They are 21st in the league in rebounding with 44.5 boards per game and 13th in assists per contest with 24.5. The Timberwolves are 27th in turnovers per game with 12.7.

Advanced Statistics

The Spurs are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.4, and their defensive rating of 111 is ranked 17th. In terms of pace they are 25th in the league with 97.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 8th. As a team they are 7th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 28% of their shots, ranking 30th in the league. San Antonio is 28th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 13th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Minnesota is 29th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 10th in the NBA. The Timberwolves are 14th in the league in defensive rating with 111.6, and their offensive rating of 111.2 is ranked 20th. They are 12th in the NBA in pace with 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 26th. As a unit they are 23rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 24th in the NBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take San Antonio +1.5

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