The Minnesota Timberwolves rode a hot first half and held on to the lead to knock off the OKC Thunder last night at home. The T-Wolves have no time to relish in that success as they’ll take the floor in Detroit tonight against a Pistons team that is trending upward. Detroit opens as a 5.5-point favorite with the total at 223.5.
Timberwolves vs Pistons Game Center
Standout Stats
- Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 36.4 points per game since the all-star break. His average before the break was 23.1. That has led to the Timberwolves averaging nine more points per game in that stretch.
- Minnesota has the No. 29 scoring defense in the second half. Opponents are scoring 122.4 points per game since the all-star game and the OVER has hit in 10 of their last 12 games.
- The OVER has hit in nine of Detroit’s last 11 games. The Pistons are scoring 115.2 points per game in the second half – nine points more than they score in the first half. The Pistons also have the No. 1 point differential since the break at +9.8.
- Detroit is playing with the league’s slowest pace during the last 15-game stretch at 96.6 possessions per game. Minnesota is playing at 100.4 possessions per game during that stretch (19th).
- These teams played to 252 points on December 19 – a game that Detroit won 129-123 as a 5.5-point road dog. The Pistons hit 20 three-pointers on 48 attempts in that game, their season high in both attempts and conversions. Minnesota’s opponents are hitting 37.3 percent of shots from beyond the arc – that gives the Timberwolves the NBA’s worst three-point defense.
- Detroit hits 12 three-pointers a game, eighth in the Association. That number has jumped to 14.2 made per game in their last 15 (third) and 15.7 per game since the all-star break (third).
My Best Bet for Timberwolves vs Pistons
OVER 223.5
Both Minnesota and Detroit have been about 50/50 vs the spread this year and there’s nothing about available trends that shows me a real edge on either side tonight. The numbers that do stand out to me are all about scoring and the potential for this game to go OVER the total.
The Odds Shark Super Computer is predicting 231 points to be scored in this game and that is backed up by the OVER trends that these teams are playing to (described above) and the scoring and shooting numbers that both sides have been putting up. I expect this total to climb, so if you can get in on it at 223.5, I think you’ll have an advantage on the totals bet in this game.
