The Minnesota Timberwolves (10-10), 2.5-point underdogs, will be at Chesapeake Energy Arena to go head-to-head against the Oklahoma City Thunder (8-12) in a Northwest Division matchup. The game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 220.5 points and it can be seen on Fox Sports – North at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, December 6, 2019.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder ATS Odds
Both teams did not cover as underdogs in their last contest. The Thunder (1-point underdogs) were defeated by the Indiana Pacers, 107-100, while the Timberwolves (5.5-point underdogs) fell to the Dallas Mavericks, 121-114. The Oklahoma City game went 1 point under the projected point total of 208, while the Minnesota game finished 6.5 points over the projected point total of 228.5.
Minnesota did a fantastic job of getting and making free throws (23-26; 88.5 percent) while Oklahoma City had a better effective field goal percentage (0.542 vs. 0.534). Steven Adams was a key piece for Oklahoma City with 20 points and nine rebounds. Meanwhile, Minnesota received a boost from Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
The Timberwolves edged out the Thunder in this series last year, emerging victorious in three out of four games. In the most recent game, Oklahoma City won 132-126. Oklahoma City out-rebounded Minnesota. The Thunder had more offensive rebounds (14 vs. six), defensive rebounds (32 vs. 26) and total rebounds (46 vs. 32). This will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams.
Vegas is known to place the total low when the Timberwolves are playing, as 55.0 percent of their contests have finished over the total. Minnesota heads into the game with records of 10-10 straight up (SU) and 9-10-1 against the spread (ATS).
Unlike Minnesota, Thunder games tend to finish under the total (60.0 percent). Although Oklahoma City has difficulty winning games outright (8-12 SU), they are 11-8-1 ATS.
The physical Oklahoma City offense might be getting to the free throw line a lot in this showdown. The Thunder currently rank seventh in the NBA with a free throw attempt (FTA) rate of 0.223, while Minnesota ranks 18th in FTA rate allowed (0.201). It will also be a tale of two paces as the up-tempo Timberwolves rank second in possessions per game, while the more half-court oriented Thunder rank 25th.
Timberwolves at Thunder Betting Pick
Prediction: SU Winner – Thunder, ATS Winner – Timberwolves, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- Minnesota ranks third in rebounds per game (48.3) while Oklahoma City ranks 25th (42.4).
- The Timberwolves rank second in blocks per game (6.6) while the Thunder rank 19th (4.7).
- Minnesota ranks 18th in assists per game (23.6) while Oklahoma City ranks 25th (22.1).
- Minnesota is 29th in the NBA with 9.7 fast break points per game while Oklahoma City is last with 8.9 fast break points per game.
- The Timberwolves rank ninth in second chance points per game (14.4) while the Thunder rank last (9.6).
- The Timberwolves rank ninth in points in the paint per game (48.7) while the Thunder rank 12th in points allowed in the paint per game (47.5).
- Minnesota ranks fifth in three pointers attempted per game (39.3) while Oklahoma City ranks 23rd (30.1).
- Oklahoma City is 3-2 when they allow below 100 points, while Minnesota is 1-0.
- When reaching 100 points, the Thunder are 8-7 and the Timberwolves are 10-6.
- Oklahoma City is 6-4-1 ATS at home, while Minnesota is 7-3 ATS on the road.
- The total has gone under in 7 of the Thunder’s 11 home games, while 6 of the Timberwolves’ 10 road games have gone over.
Bettings Trends:
- The Thunder are 1-3-1 ATS over their last five games, while the Timberwolves are 2-3.
- In their last five games, Oklahoma City has 4 unders and 1 over, while Minnesota has 3 unders and 2 overs.
- During their last five games, the Thunder have scored an average of 107.0 points per game (0.1 below their season average) and allowed an average of 109.6 points per game (1.4 above their season average).
- The Timberwolves have outscored opponents by an average of 1.4 points in their last five games. For the season, Minnesota has lost by an average of 1.1 points.
