Minnesota Timberwolves at Boston Celtics NBA Picks & Predictions 1/2/2019

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

TD Garden

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Boston as 6 point favorites.

The Timberwolves have a record of 17-20. They are 5th in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of -0.1 as they average 111.5 points per game while giving up 111.6 per contest. The Celtics have an overall mark of 21-15. They currently are 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They total 111.6 points per contest and give up 106.0, which is a point differential of 5.6.

Valuable Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Trends

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 19-18-0 against the spread

The Minnesota Timberwolves are 18-19-0 against the over/under

Important Boston Celtics Betting Trends

The Boston Celtics are 18-18-0 against the spread

The Boston Celtics are 23-13-0 against the over/under

Key Minnesota Timberwolves Injuries

01/01/19 PG Derrick Rose Ankle is downgraded to doubtful Wednesday vs Boston
01/01/19 PG Jeff Teague Ankle is upgraded to questionable Wednesday vs Boston
01/01/19 SF Robert Covington Ankle is questionable Wednesday vs Boston

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

12/19/18 C Aron Baynes Hand is out indefinitely
01/01/19 PG Kyrie Irving Eye injured last game, is questionable Wednesday vs Minnesota

Player Spotlight

Andrew Wiggins comes into this contest averaging 16.6 points per game while playing 33.7 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.0 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 40% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 73%. Karl-Anthony Towns averages 21.7 points per game in 33.7 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.9 assists per contest and 12.1 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%.

Player Spotlight

Kyrie Irving averages 23.1 points per game while playing 32.3 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 4.9 rebounds per game and has 6.6 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is at 85%. Jayson Tatum averages 16.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.6 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota averages 111.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 13th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.1 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 22nd. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 9th in the league. They average 44.3 rebounds per game and 24.5 assists per game, which ranks them 20th and 13th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 28th with 12.7 per game. The Timberwolves allow 111.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 21st in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 15th and 30th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 46.5 rebounds a game which ranks 26th and they give up 25.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 28th place in the league. They force 15.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 22nd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston is 12th in the league with 111.6 points per game this year. They are 20th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 5.6. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 6th in the NBA. They are 14th in the league in rebounding with 45.4 boards per game, and 8th in assists per contest with 25.4. The Celtics are 26th in turnovers per game with 12.9. The Celtics surrender 106.0 points per contest, which ranks them 5th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 4th and 3rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 5th with 22.4 assists allowed per contest and 19th with 45.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Celtics are 24th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.6 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Timberwolves are 11th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.3, and their defensive rating of 111.3 is ranked 20th. In terms of pace they are 13th in the league with 99.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 25th. As a team they are 21st in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 25th in the league. Minnesota is 28th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 10th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Boston is 27th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 25th in the league. The Celtics are 10th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.6, and their defensive rating of 106 is ranked 4th. In terms of pace they are 20th in the league with 98.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 13th. As a team they are 13th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 3rd in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Boston -6

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