The Minnesota Timberwolves (17-20) will travel to TD Garden to meet the Boston Celtics (21-15). The game starts at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, and will air on ESPN.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Boston Celtics ATS Odds
Both teams fell in their last matchup. The Celtics (1.5-point favorites) were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs, 120-111, while the Timberwolves (0-point underdogs) fell to the New Orleans Pelicans, 123-114. Both games finished 13.5 points over their projected point totals (217.5 for the Boston game and 223.5 for the Minnesota game).
Minnesota had a much better turnover percentage (6.4 vs. 13.5) while Boston had a better offensive rebounding percentage (20.5 vs. 20.5). Jaylen Brown played a pivotal role for Boston with 30 points. Meanwhile, Minnesota was lifted by Karl-Anthony Towns, who put up 28 points, 17 rebounds and six assists.
In their first matchup this year, Gordon Hayward led the Celtics to a 118-109 win. He was the game’s top overall scorer with 30 points. Boston covered as a 2-point underdog and the two teams combined to put up 227 points, which was over the projected point total of 216. Boston’s 0.571 effective field goal percentage was its biggest advantage over Minnesota, who had a rate of 0.506.
Timberwolves games have a slight tendency to finish under the O/U total (51.4 percent). Minnesota comes into the game with records of 17-20 straight up (SU) and 19-18 against the spread (ATS).
Of the Celtics’ 36 games, 23 have finished over the total. Additionally, Boston owns records of 21-15 SU and 18-18 ATS.
Towns and Robert Covington have played at a high level over the last five games for Minnesota. Towns has averaged 23 points,13.4 rebounds,5.2 assists,2.0 blocks per game, while Covington has put up 16 points,6.4 rebounds,2.0 steals,1.4 blocks a game during that span.
Boston appears to have the edge on the defensive side of the ball. The Celtics currently rank sixth in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.507), while Minnesota is 25th in effective field goal percentage (0.506). Furthermore, the Timberwolves rank third in turnover percentage (12.3 percent), while the Celtics rank fifth in opponents’ turnover percentage (15.2 percent).
Timberwolves at Celtics Pick
NBA Tip: SU Winner – Celtics, ATS Winner – Celtics, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Timberwolves rank 3 in steals per game (9.243243243243244) while the Celtics rank 8 (8.694444444444445).
- Boston averages 36.5 three pointers per game, which ranks third in the league. Minnesota ranks 26th in three pointers allowed per game (33.5).
- The Celtics average 15.8 fast break points per game, which ranks seventh in the league. The Timberwolves rank 22nd in fast break points allowed per game (14.6).
- Minnesota ranks 14th in points in the paint per game (48.8) while Boston ranks 28th (42.2).
- Boston ranks 14 in rebounds per game (45.361111111111114) while Minnesota ranks 24 in rebounds allowed per game (46.54054054054054).
- The Celtics rank fifth in assists allowed per game (22.4) while the Timberwolves rank 27th (25.6).
- The Celtics rank 2 in blocks allowed per game (3.944444444444444) while the Timberwolves rank 15 (5.108108108108108).
- Boston ranks 4 in points off turnovers per game (19.22222222222222) while Minnesota ranks 8 (17.62162162162162).
- Boston ranks seventh in second chance points allowed per game (12.4) while Minnesota ranks 26th (14.7).
- Boston is 7-2 when they allow less than 100 points, while Minnesota is 7-0.
- In games where they reach 100 points, the Timberwolves are 17-14 and the Celtics are 21-12.
- Minnesota is 8-11 ATS on the road, while Boston is 10-6 ATS at home.
- The total has gone under in 11 of the Timberwolves’ 19 road games, while 10 of the Celtics’ 16 home games have gone over.
Bettings Trends:
- In their last five games, Minnesota and Boston are both 3-2 ATS with 5 overs.
- The Timberwolves have outscored opponents by an average of 4.8 points in their last five games. For the season, Minnesota has been defeated by an average of 0.1 points.
- During their last five games, the Celtics have scored an average of 115.2 points per game (3.6 above their season average) and allowed an average of 113.4 points per game (7.4 above their season average).
