Timberwolves vs Trail Blazers Pick, Preview & Betting Odds For Monday, December 12th

Check out our free Timberwolves vs Trail Blazers pick and preview for this NBA game in Portland. See who we like to win and cover the spread in this NBA matchup.

Timberwolves vs Trail Blazers NBA Pick & Preview

Sport: NBA
Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves at Portland Trail Blazers
Where: Portland at Moda Center
Date: Monday, December 12th
Betting Odds POR -4.5, MIN +155 | POR -189 O/U 231.0

The Timberwolves come into today’s matchup with an overall record of 13-13. So far, the team has gone 10-16-0 against the spread. Over the team’s past 3 games, Minnesota has an overall record of 2-1, including going 2-1 against the spread.

Minnesota is trying to bounce back from a 124-118 loss to the Trail Blazers. Going into this game, the team was 5 point underdogs on the spread, giving them an ATS loss. Minnesota let an opportunity for a win slip away as they held a lead going into the 2nd half of action. Leading the team in scoring was Anthony Edwards, as he contributed 26 points while hitting 50.0% of his shots.

So far, the Trail Blazers have put together an overall record of 14-12, while going 17-9-0 vs the spread. Against the spread, Portland has a mark of 3-0. Straight up, their record is 2-1 in these games.

The Trail Blazers will look to keep things rolling, as they previously beat the Timberwolves by a score of 124-118. Heading into the game, they were 5 point favorites against the spread, giving them an ATS win. Although Portland trailed the Timberwolves going into halftime, by the end of the 3rd quarter they had taken the lead. In the win, Damian Lillard led the team in scoring with 36 points on a field goal percentage of 40.9%.

Head To Head Recap & Stats

I Similar to their season-long average, the Timberwolves averaged 121.0 points per game vs the Trail Blazers. Just like the Timberwolves, the Trail Blazers maintained their usual level of scoring in head-to-head matchups, averaging 105.0 points per game vs Minnesota. Across the previous 5 meetings between the teams, the Timberwolves have an average scoring margin of +12 points per game, leading to an ATS mark of 3-2. Over the course of these games, they averaged 228 points per game, leading a 3-2 over-under record.

Odds & Free Betting Analysis For This NBA Game

The Timberwolves come into today’s game as one of the better scoring teams in the NBA at 115.4 points per game (9th). Coming into today’s game, the Timberwolves will be looking to improve their 3-point shooting numbers, as they are averaging just 11.0 made 3’s per game. If the Minnesota offense is going to turn things around, not only do they need to improve their outside shooting but they must do a better job protecting the ball. Currently, they are averaging 16.3 turnovers per game.

On defense, the Timberwolves will look for some improved play, as they are currently the 24th ranked unit in points allowed per game.

A key injury to note in this game is the absence of the Timberwolves 2nd leading scorer, Karl-Anthony Towns. In his 21 games, Towns is averaging 20.8 points per game while dishing out 5.3 assists and grabbing 8.2 rebounds. In his absence, the team will be looking for even more production out of Anthony Edwards, who leads the team and is 25th in the NBA at 22.9 points per contest. For the season, he has connected on 45.5% of his field goal attempts while taking 20.6% of the team’s shots from the floor.

This season, the Portland offense has had their problems scoring the ball as they are a below average unit at 111.2 points per game. So far, the Trail Blazers are averaging 96.9 possessions per game, which places them below the NBA average. Even though the Trail Blazers are one of the more efficient 3-point shooting teams in the NBA at 38.4%, their slower-style of play may be holding back the team’s offense from fully taking off.

Currently, the Trail Blazers defense is ranked 27th in points allowed. So far, opposing teams are averaging 115.11 points per game vs the unit.

On offense, Anfernee Simons leads the Trail Blazers in scoring at 24.2 points per game, placing him 21st in the NBA. Overall, Simons has hit 44.5% of his shots while accounting for 22.6% of the team’s looks from the field. In today’s game, he will be working against a defensive unit that is 20th in points allowed to shooting guards. At 22.5 points per game, Jerami Grant is the 2nd leading scorer for the Trail Blazers. For the season, he is 86th in the league in player efficiency rating, while posting a field goal percentage of 47.2%.