Timberwolves vs. Jazz Spread Pick & Analysis

Minnesota Timberwolves (29-28 SU, 27-30-0 ATS) vs. Utah Jazz (27-28 SU, 29-24-2 ATS)
When: Wednesday, February 8th, 9:00 PM (ET)
Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena, UT, Salt Lake City
TV: SN-RM

Point Spread: Min +3.5/UT -3.5
Total: 232.5
Money Line: Minnesota Timberwolves +131/-160

Notable Injuries

Timberwolves

• Kyle Anderson (Questionable) Back
• Austin Rivers (Out) Suspension
• Karl-Anthony Towns (Out) Calf

Jazz

• Jarred Vanderbilt (Questionable) Back

Recent Form

Minnesota is 29-28 overall heading into the game. When taking to the road, Minnesota has a mark of 9-16 and a win percentage of 36%. Currently, the team is 9th in the Western Conference. So far, they are 27-30-0 vs. the spread. When looking at how the team has performed of late straight and vs. the spread, they are 2-3 in their past five games and 2-3 ATS. Over their past ten games, they are 6-4 SU and 6-4 ATS.

In their last outing, Minnesota was unable to come away with a win against the Nuggets, losing by a score of 146-112. Anthony Edwards led the team with 19 points, but it was not enough to overcome their status as 8-point underdogs. The Timberwolves also ended up with an ATS loss in the game.

Heading into the game, Utah is 27-28 overall. When playing at home, Utah has a mark of 18-11 and a win percentage of 62%. Currently, the team is 10th in the Western Conference. So far, they are 29-24-2 vs. the spread. The Jazz need a win in today’s matchup vs. Minnesota to avoid their 3rd straight loss.

In their last game, Utah was defeated by Mavericks with a score of 124-111. Despite Jordan Clarkson scoring 26 points, the team was unable to come out on top. Going into the game, the Jazz were 9-point favorites.

The Historicals

In the most recent matchup between the two teams, the Jazz picked up the win 132-126 win over the Timberwolves. Heading into the game, Utah was the 8.0-point underdogs, giving them an ATS win. So far this season, the Jazz have a record of 2-1 vs. the Timberwolves. 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 2 points per game. Over the course of these games, they averaged 238 points per game, leading a 4-1 over-under record.

Analysis

This season, Minnesota is among the league leaders in scoring, averaging 115.4 points per game. So far, the Timberwolves are also one of the more up-tempo teams in the league, sitting at 101.3 possessions per game. When looking at the team’s 3-point shooting numbers, they profile as an average team in both percentage and attempts. For the season, the Timberwolves’ offense is ranked 14th in 3-point attempts per game while connecting at a rate of 35.3%. The defense has been a struggle for Minnesota, as they are currently allowing 113.3 points per game. However, even with their overall struggles, the team has done a good job defending the 3-point line. So far, opposing teams have hit just 34.89% of their looks from deep.

Coming into today’s game, Anthony Edwards is the leading scorer for Minnesota at 24.6 points per game. This season, Edwards has a field goal percentage of 46.3%. The team’s second-leading scorer is D’Angelo Russell, at 17.9 points per contest.

For the season, Utah has put together one of the top-scoring offenses in the NBA at 117.5 points per game. When looking at their style of play, the team is currently near the league average in pace, averaging 99.8 possessions per contest. The three-point shot has been a big part of Utah’s offensive game plan, as they are ranked 5th in 3-point attempts per game. So far, they have connected on 36.4% of their looks from the outside. Defensively, the Jazz have been one of the best units in the NBA, allowing just 107.57 points per game. So far, they have allowed a 3-point shooting percentage of 35.09%, placing them 15th in the NBA.

Lauri Markkanen is the top scorer for the Jazz, with an average of 24.8 points per game. This season, his field goal percentage is 51.8%. Jordan Clarkson is the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 21.1 points per game.

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Betting Trends

• The Timberwolves are 5-0 ATS in their last five games following an ATS loss.
• The Timberwolves are 5-0 ATS in their last five games following a straight-up loss.
• The Jazz are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games following a straight-up loss.
• The Jazz are 5-1 ATS in their last six games following an ATS loss.

Joes Pick To Cover The Spread

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a brutal spot here, coming off a back-to-back in high elevation last night (Denver), got absolutely smashed, and the team is 1-4 in their last five road games. The Jazz are VERY comfortable in this spot, as their schedule has been ridiculous, with ten of their last twelve games being played at home! I’m betting the Jazz at -3.5 and am predicting a double-digit win! Bet your NBA predictions for FREE this week by taking advantage of a 50% real cash bonus up to $250 in FREE BETS at the web’s best sportsbook —> Bovada! They have a KILLER live wagering platform that isn’t clunky like most other books! It’s where we bet!