Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Sacramento Kings Betting Preview: Key NBA Showdown

Minnesota Timberwolves (21-6 SU, 14-12 ATS) vs. Sacramento Kings (17-10 SU, 15-12 ATS)

When: Saturday, December 23rd, 10:00 PM (ET)

Where: Golden 1 Center, CA, Sacramento

TV: NBCS

Point Spread: Min +2.5/Sac -2.5

Total: 232

Money Line: Minnesota Timberwolves +117/-140

Notable Injuries

Timberwolves

• Karl-Anthony Towns (Out) Knee
• Jaylen Clark (Out) Achilles

Kings

• Alex Len (Out) Ankle

Recent Form

Heading into today’s game against the Kings, the Timberwolves are hoping to add to their overall record of 21-6. When playing on the road, the Timberwolves are 9-5 compared to their home record of 12-1.

When playing on the road, the Kings are 6-6 this season compared to their 11-4 record at home. Over their last three games, the Kings are 2-1 and have an overall record of 17-10.

The Historicals

When looking at how these teams have performed against the spread in recent matchups, the Timberwolves hold the edge at 3-2. However, the average scoring margin in these matchups has been tight, sitting at just -1 points per game. Over the course of these games, they averaged 239 points per game, leading a 2-3 over-under record.

Analysis

In their recent matchup, the Timberwolves offense ended with 118 points against the Lakers. They finished with an overall field goal percentage of 48.3% and made 14 threes. The team’s top scorer is Karl-Anthony Towns, who enters today’s matchup with an average of 22.2, while Anthony Edwards also carries a PPG average of 24.8 into the game.

At present, the Timberwolves’ defense is ranked 1, allowing 106.9 points per game.

On two-point field goal attempts, the Timberwolves’ defensive unit is allowing a field goal percentage of 50.2% and allowing 34.1% from beyond the arc.

The Kings’ offense is coming off a game where they scored 120 points against the Suns. They posted a field goal percentage of 53% and connected on 12 threes. De’Aaron Fox is the current leading scorer for the team, with an average of 29.7 as they approach today’s matchup. In addition, Domantas Sabonis brings a PPG average of 19 into the game.

Coming into the game, the Kings’ defense is giving up an average of 117.7 points per game. So far, they have given up more points than the NBA league average in 63.0% of their games.

Sacramento’s defense is currently forcing 12.7 turnovers per game, which is 13th in the league. Additionally, they enter the game ranked 27th in blocked shots, with an average of 4.1 rejections per game.

Betting Trends

• Across their last five road contests, Minnesota has been good against the spread, posting a mark of 3-2. Their overall mark in these games was 3-2 while averaging 115 points per game.
• In their last five games at home, the Kings have a straight-up record of 2-3 while going 2-3 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 108 points per game in these contests.
• Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Timberwolves have gone 5-5 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 4-6.
• As the betting favorite, the Kings have an ATS record of 3-2 in their last five games. In these matchups, their straight-up record was 4-1.

Joes Pick To Cover The Spread

Both the Timberwolves and the Kings are coming off wins, but despite being on the road, the Wolves have the rest advantage coming into the game. The last time these teams played came back in the group stage of the in-season tournament, and the Kings got the best of Minnesota in Minneapolis. With Karl-Anthony Towns out for this one, I see Sacramento winning and covering at -2.5.