Portland Trail Blazers vs Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Picks 1/9/2020

Game: Portland Trail Blazers vs Minnesota Timberwolves

Date: Thursday, January 9, 2020

Location: Target Center in Minneapolis, MN

TV: Fox Sports North

Odds/Point Spread: Portland -2

Total/Over-Under: 222

Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves (14-22, 5th in the Northwest Division) host the Portland Trail Blazers (16-22, 4th in the Northwest Division) at Target Center on Thursday, January 9, 2020. The odds on this matchup have Portland as 2 point favorites. The O/U opens at 222.

The Blazers are covering the spread 41.7% of the time, having gone 15-21-2 ATS. Minnesota is covering 44.1% of the time, going 15-19-2 against the spread.

Key Portland Trail Blazers Injuries

12/25/19 PF Zach Collins Shoulder is out indefinitely
12/06/19 SG Rodney Hood Achilles is out indefinitely
10/19/19 C Jusuf Nurkic Leg is out indefinitely
01/05/20 PF Skal Labissiere Knee is out indefinitely

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

01/07/20 C Karl-Anthony Towns Knee is questionable Thursday vs Portland
01/06/20 SF Jake Layman Toe is questionable Thursday vs Portland

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard averages 26.9 points per game in 36.9 minutes per contest. He averages 7.6 assists per contest and 4.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 89%. CJ McCollum comes into this contest averaging 21.9 points per game while playing 36.5 minutes per night. He pulls down 4.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is at 80%.

Player Spotlight

Andrew Wiggins averages 24.1 points per game and he sees the court an average of 35.5 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.4 rebounds per contest and 3.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 75%. Karl-Anthony Towns averages 26.5 points per game while playing 33.9 minutes per contest. He grabs 11.7 rebounds per game and has 4.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 51% and his free throw percentage is at 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Blazers allow 113.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 21st in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 10th and 21st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 47.9 rebounds a game which ranks 29th, and they give up 23.6 assists per contest which puts them in 12th place in the league. They force 13.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 5th in the league. Portland averages 112.0 points per contest this season, which ranks them 11th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -1.6 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 18th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 12th in the league. They average 45.9 rebounds per game and 19.7 assists per contest, which ranks them 12th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 27th with 13.1 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Timberwolves surrender 114.4 points per contest, which ranks them 24th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 17th and 18th in those defensive statistics. They rank 10th with 23.3 assists allowed per contest, and 30th with 48.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Timberwolves are 23rd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.7 per game. Minnesota is 12th in the league with 111.8 points per game this year. They are 28th in the league in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is -2.6. They shoot 32% from 3-point range, which is good for 29th in the NBA. They are 7th in the league in rebounding with 46.5 boards per game and 24th in assists per contest with 22.3. The Timberwolves are 10th in turnovers per game with 15.5.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 11th in the league in defensive rating with 112.1, and their offensive rating of 110.5 is ranked 22nd. They are 11th in the NBA in pace with 101.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 21st. As a unit they are 18th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 17th in the NBA. Portland is 30th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 21st in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Minnesota is 16th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 16th in the NBA. The Timberwolves are 22nd in the league in defensive rating with 109.3, and their offensive rating of 106.8 is ranked 15th. They are 8th in the NBA in pace with 102.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 26th. As a unit they are 26th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 43% of their shot attempts, ranking 4th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Portland -2

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here