The Minnesota Timberwolves are wrapping up their three-game homestand before embarking on a five-game road swing as they host the Utah Jazz at the Target Center. The two teams split their four-game season series last year and the Jazz have opened as a 2.5-point favorite for tonight’s game with the total Sportsbook at 223 points.
- The Jazz are 4-1 SU and ATS in their last five games on the road vs the Timberwolves.
- The total has gone OVER in five of the Jazz’ last seven games (avg. combined score: 218.0).
- The Jazz are 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six games with two days off between games.
Jazz vs Timberwolves Game Center
Utah eyes perfect road trip
The Jazz are closing down their four-game road swing with tonight’s match and have claimed victory in the previous three contests. Oddly enough, Utah has won all four of its road games this year, while dropping its two home games. One of the big reasons for its success is the terrific play under the rim by Rudy Gobert. The center is averaging 13.5 boards per game, which is the fifth-most in the league, and he has grabbed at least 11 rebounds in every match this year. The Jazz are allowing their opponents to get an average of 40.2 boards per game, which is the fewest in the NBA.
Defense is the path to victory for Utah this year as the team is allowing just 106.2 points per game, which is the sixth-fewest in the league, while offensively it ranks in a tie for 13th with 112.5 ppg. The Timberwolves like to use their athleticism to catch their opponents off guard as they rank seventh in the Association with an average of 18.1 fast-break points per game, but the Jazz allow the seventh-fewest fast-break points per game at 12.5.
Minnesota needs to do a better job defensively
The Timberwolves have been doing well scoring this year, averaging 114.3 points per game, which ranks 10th in the league. However, they are allowing 117.6 points per game, the seventh-most in the NBA. Minnesota is doing a good job drawing fouls and taking advantage at the charity stripe as the T-Wolves are getting hacked 23.3 times a game, which is the ninth-most in the league, and are scoring an average of 23.1 free-throw points per game, ranking third in the NBA.
Rebounding has been a huge concern for the Timberwolves, though, as they rank second-to-last for defensive rebounding percentage at 67 and because of this, they are allowing the most points off second chances at 18.6. As mentioned above, Minnesota always pushes the pace and looks for fast-break opportunities, but the Wolves aren’t sloppy with the ball as they only turn the ball over 13.7 times per game, the fourth-best mark in the NBA.
Should you be on the UNDER tonight?
Minnesota and Utah have had an average combined score of 215.8 over their last five meetings and Sportsbook has tonight’s total Sportsbook at 223 points. Meanwhile, the Jazz have gone OVER in five of their last seven games but the average combined score was 218, five points below tonight’s Sportsbook total. Additionally, the Timberwolves have gone UNDER in three of their last four games with an average combined score of 218.25. Lastly, Minnesota is hitting just 43 percent of its shots from the floor, which is the fifth-worst in the league, and Utah is allowing just 106.2 points per game, which is the sixth-fewest in the NBA, so the UNDER does look like a good bet.
My take on Utah vs Minnesota
I like the Jazz to cover the 2.5-point spread. In many of the things that Minnesota does well, Utah does a good job defending those areas of attack. Additionally, the Jazz have done tremendously well on the road recently, going 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS this season. Going back the last 20 regular-season games, Utah is 18-2 SU and 14-5-1 ATS away from home. Lastly, the Timberwolves will be without shooting guard Jimmy Butler as it appears he is holding out with hopes of being traded.
