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Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
NBA: Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 8:00 PM EST
The Rockets have won four of their last five games and they are tied with the Portland Trailblazers for the 4th spot in the Western Conference. Houston is a balanced team and they have put up at least 120 points in three of their last five games including their last one. They can score and have a guy names James Harden, who is making history, as he has scored at least 30 points in 30 straight games.
The Timberwolves snapped their four-game losing streak in their last game, but they are still in the basement of the Northwest Division. They have lost six of their last games and are four games out of the 8th spot in the West. They recently got Derrick Rose back from injury and he will be needed if Minnesota is going to make a run.
22 & 6 for @drose in his return 🌹 pic.twitter.com/2V1uno9V3V
— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) February 12, 2019
The T-Wolves have not been bad on either side of the court this season, but not good either not ranking in the top 15 in the league in ppg or points against.
In the lone matchup between these teams this season, the Timberwolves were at home and beat the Rockets 103-91.
The Rockets are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games facing the T-Wolves.
Rebounding and turnovers help in home win
In their last game, the Rockets were at home beating the Dallas Mavericks and while the teams had similar shooting stats Houston was solid on the glass and had fewer turnovers. They had nine offensive rebounds and only gave up three and they forced 18 turnovers and committed 11. Big shock that James Harden led the team going for 31 points, but he was just 9/23 from the floor and 6/17 from 3-pt range. Gerald Green came off the bench to go for 19 points, Chris Paul had 17 points and 11 assists, and Eric Gordon had 18 points.
Harden leads the league in scoring averaging 36.5 ppg and he can’t be stopped, but Minnesota has to key on the other scorers of Paul, Gordon, and Kenneth Faried, who are all averaging over 15 ppg. Clint Capela ranks 2nd on the Rockets averaging 17.6 ppg and leads them averaging 12.6 ppg, but he is out with an injury and will not return until after the All-Star break. This season, the Rockets are 13-14 on the road.
Balance is the key
The Timberwolves were at home in their last game beating the L.A. Clippers 130-120 where they had great scoring balance. All five starters went for double figures and two bench players did as well. Minnesota shot 52.2% from the floor and allowed the Clippers to shoot 51.4%, but L.A. gave up 16 offensive rebounds and they had 21 turnovers. Karl-Anthony Towns led the team with 24 points and 10 boards, Rose came off the bench to go for 22 points, and Jeff Teague and Dario Saric each had 19 points.
Towns leads the club in scoring (23.1 ppg) and rebounding (12.6 rpg) and he has been filling it up lately. Rose ranks 3rd on the team averaging 18.4 ppg and his last game was his first back after missing several with an injury. Minnesota has failed to cover the spread in five of their last six home games. On the season, the T-Wolves are 18-10 at home.
Notable Trends
The Minnesota Timberwolves are:
- NA
The Houston Rockets are:
- 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games overall
- 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games
- 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS win
The Bottom Line What to bet on this game.
Full-Game Side Bet
Hard to go against Harden and company, but they are without their 2nd league scorer and leading rebounder Capela. On top of that the team is under .500 on the road this season. Minnesota beat Houston at home earlier this season and this will be a close one where the Timberwolves will, at least, cover the spread.
Prediction: PICK: Timberwolves
Full-Game Total Pick
In five of the last six games between these teams in the Land of 10,000 Lakes the total has gone Over five times. the one time it didn’t was earlier this season, but it will go Over again in this game. Expect a big-time shootout and a barnburner, so the Over is the Money pick in this Western Conference matchup.
Prediction: PICK: Over
