Minnesota Timberwolves vs Houston Rockets Prediction
| Game Time | 8:00 pm EST |
| Minnesota Timberwolves Line | +1 |
| Houston Rockets Line | -1 |
| Total | 213.5 |
| TV: | NBA TV |
Below is a detailed analysis for Minnesota Timberwolves vs Houston Rockets game.
PREGAME WARM-UP:
The Minnesota Timberwolves, following a rollercoaster win on Christmas Day, are now visiting the Houston Rockets, who are on the second leg of a back-to-back. The Rockets are having one of their best seasons in recent years, as they sit on the second place of the Western Conference, but are playing their second game in two nights, having to travel back home from New Orleans. The Wolves are coming off a Christmas Day win that snapped their previous three-game losing streak, but are playing their third consecutive road game.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Houston Rockets Prediction
Houston Rockets Injury Report: Tari Eason, Dillon Brooks day-to-day.
Minnesota Timberwolves Injury Report: Naz Reid, Luka Garza are questionable, Joe Ingles, Daishen Nix are out
Houston Rockets Form and Trends
The Rockets have a 20-9 record this season and are sitting on the second place of the West. Houston is 18-11 against the spread and 14-15 in over/under. The Rockets have a 9-5 road record, and are 8-6 against the spread, with a +3.7-point differential. The Rockets are 5-1 in their last 6 games, but 3-5 against the spread in their last 8.
The Rockets are coming off a 114-101 win in Charlotte, even though they shot with just 43% from the field. Four of their five starters scored 16+ points, as Jalen Smith Jr led Houston’s offense with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Jalen Green leads the Rockets in scoring with an average of 19.1 points and 4.7 rebounds. Alperen Sengun adds 18.6 points, 5.2 assists and a team-high 10.4 rebounds.
Minnesota Timberwolves Recent Form and Trends
The Timberwolves have a 15-14 record this season and are tied with the Suns on the 10th place of the West. The Wolves are 12-17 against the spread and 13-16 in over/under. Minnesota has a 7-8 road record, but are just 8-7 against the spread, with a +1.3-point differential. The Wolves are 1-3 in their last 4 games and are 9-2 to the under in their last 11 games.
The Timberwolves are coming off a 105-99 win in Dallas, as they held the Mavs into just 41% shooting from the field. Four of five Minnesota starters score double figures, led by Anthony Edwards with 26 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
Edwards leads the Timberwolves both in scoring with 25.3 points, adding 5.6 rebounds and 4 assists. Julius Randle adds 20.1 points, 7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
Statistical Breakdown
Offensively, the Rockets average 112.9 point per game, ranking 15th in the league. Houston does not shoot the ball very well, with just 44.2% from the field (26th) and 32.4% from beyond the arc (28th). Defensively, they are third-best in the league, allowing 106.3 points per game.
Offensively, the Wolves average 109.1 points per game, which is 23rd in the league. They shoot 45.7% from the field (19th) and with 37.2% from beyond the arc (14th). Defensively, they allow 106.9 points per game, which is the fourth-best in the NBA.
In their previous meeting earlier this season, the Rockets won 117-111 in overtime on the road. The Wolves are 8-2 in their last 10 meetings, and 4-1 in their last 5 meetings in Houston. Over is 3-1 in their last 4 meetings.
Prediction
In this Minnesota Timberwolves vs Houston Rockets Prediction, the Rockets are coming as -1 home favorites. The Rockets are rightfully favored as they are the better and more stable team throughout the season, but they are one the second leg of a back-to-back, so I don’t trust them in this particular scheduling spot. The Wolves are playing excellent defense lately, and both teams are top-4 in the NBA defensively, allowing 213.2 points per game combined. They have also been involved in lower scoring games lately, as they are 12-4 to the under in their last 16 games combined, and they previous meeting had only 204 points in regulation. I expect another low scoring affair, so take the under the point total. Nick’s Free Pick: Under 213.5
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