Boston Celtics vs Minnesota Timberwolves Predictions, Expert NBA Pick 2/21/2020

Game: Boston Celtics vs Minnesota Timberwolves

Date: Friday, February 21, 2020

Location: Target Center in Minneapolis, MN

TV: Fox Sports North

Odds/Point Spread: Boston -5.5

Total/Over-Under: 227

Target Center is the venue where Malik Beasley and the Minnesota Timberwolves (16-37, 5th in the Northwest Division) will play the Boston Celtics (38-16, 2nd in the Atlantic Division) on Friday. Minnesota opens this game as 5.5 point underdogs. The total opens at 227.

The Celtics are covering the spread 61.5% of the time, having gone 32-20-2 ATS. Minnesota is covering 35.3% of the time, going 18-33-2 against the spread.

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

02/20/20 SG Jaylen Brown Calf is upgraded to probable Friday vs Minnesota
02/20/20 PG Kemba Walker Knee is probable Friday vs Minnesota

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

02/14/20 C Karl-Anthony Towns Wrist is out indefinitely
01/27/20 SF Jake Layman Toe is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jaylen Brown comes into this contest averaging 20.2 points per game while playing 33.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 6.4 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 74%. Jayson Tatum averages 22.4 points per game in 34.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.9 assists per contest and 6.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%.

Player Spotlight

Malik Beasley averages 8.9 points per game while playing 19.2 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 2.2 rebounds per game and has 1.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is at 86%. D'Angelo Russell averages 23.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.7 rebounds per contest and 6.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston averages 113.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 10th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 6.9 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 12th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 10th in the league. They average 45.7 rebounds per game and 23.3 assists per game, which ranks them 12th and 21st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 23rd with 13.8 per game. The Celtics allow 106.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 3rd in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 4th and 4th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.0 rebounds a game which ranks 9th and they give up 22.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 4th place in the league. They force 15.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 23rd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota is 14th in the league with 112.4 points per game this year. They are 27th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -3.6. They shoot 33% from 3-point range, which is good for 29th in the NBA. They are 14th in the league in rebounding with 45.6 boards per game, and 19th in assists per contest with 23.7. The Timberwolves are 6th in turnovers per game with 15.5. The Timberwolves surrender 115.9 points per contest, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 21st and 23rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 8th with 23.5 assists allowed per contest and 29th with 47.4 rebounds surrendered per game. The Timberwolves are 24th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.5 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Celtics are 5th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.1, and their defensive rating of 106.2 is ranked 3rd. In terms of pace they are 17th in the league with 99.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 12th. As a team they are 9th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 14th in the league. Boston is 23rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.7 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 14th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 12th in the league. The Timberwolves are 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.7, and their defensive rating of 111.1 is ranked 17th. In terms of pace they are 7th in the league with 102.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 26th. As a team they are 25th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 43% of their shots, ranking 3rd in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Boston -5.5

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