New Orleans Pelicans vs Minnesota Timberwolves Predictions, NBA Picks 3/8/2020

Game: New Orleans Pelicans vs Minnesota Timberwolves

Date: Sunday, March 8, 2020

Location: Target Center in Minneapolis, MN

TV: Fox Sports North

Odds/Point Spread: New Orleans -5.5

Total/Over-Under: 245.5

Target Center is the site where Malik Beasley and the Minnesota Timberwolves (19-43, 5th in the Northwest Division) will take on the New Orleans Pelicans (27-36, 4th in the Southwest Division) on Sunday. Minnesota opens this game as 5.5 point underdogs. The O/U opens at 245.5.

The Pelicans are covering 52.5% of the time, having gone 32-29-2 ATS. Minnesota is covering 36.7% of the time, going 22-38-2 against the spread.

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

03/01/20 SG JJ Redick Hamstring is out 2-3 weeks

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

02/14/20 C Karl-Anthony Towns Wrist is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday comes into this game averaging 19.2 points per contest while playing 34.9 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.8 rebounds per contest and distributes 6.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 69%. Brandon Ingram averages 24.4 points per contest in 34.2 minutes per game. He averages 4.3 assists per game and 6.1 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% for the season while his free throw percentage is 86%.

Player Spotlight

Malik Beasley scores 11.1 points per contest while playing 21.6 minutes per game. He hauls in 2.6 rebounds per contest and has 1.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. D'Angelo Russell averages 23.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.8 rebounds per game and has 6.4 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans averages 116.1 points per contest, which is 5th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -1.1 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 15th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 3rd in the NBA. They average 46.9 boards per contest and 27.0 assists per game, which ranks them 5th and 3rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 3rd with 16.1 per game. The Pelicans allow 117.2 points per contest, which is 27th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 19th and 18th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 45.1 rebounds a game which ranks 15th, and they allow 24.7 assists per game which puts them in 17th place in the league. They force 14.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 16th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota is 9th in the NBA with 113.4 points per contest this season. They are 28th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -4.13. They shoot 34% from beyond the arc, which is good for 28th in the league. They are 15th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.9 boards per contest and 18th in assists per game with 23.9. The Timberwolves are 7th in turnovers per contest with 15.2. The Timberwolves give up 117.5 points per game, which ranks them 28th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 48% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 24th and 21st in those defensive statistics. They rank 12th with 24.3 dimes allowed per game and 29th with 47.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Timberwolves are 22nd in the league in forcing turnovers with 15.3 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 15th in the league in defensive rating with 111.9, and their offensive rating of 110.9 is ranked 20th. They are 2nd in the NBA in pace with 103.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 7th. As a unit they are 14th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the NBA. New Orleans is 6th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 14th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Minnesota is 15th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 54%, which is 11th in the league. The Timberwolves are 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 108.4, and their defensive rating of 112.3 is ranked 21st. In terms of pace they are 5th in the league with 103.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 26th. As a team they are 24th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 44% of their shots, ranking 3rd in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Minnesota +5.5

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