The Brooklyn Nets head to the Target Center to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. The game starts at 8:00 pm ET on Saturday, Mar. 5 and will air on YES and FNo.
The Timberwolves were beaten by the Bucks 116-101 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns was the team’s high scorer, contributing 21 points. The Nets, meanwhile, are coming off a 121-120 win over the Nuggets on Friday. Markel Brown led the team in scoring with 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting.
Thaddeus Young has been on fire over the last five games for the Nets, averaging 16.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks.
Keep an eye on Minnesota’s ability to get to the charity stripe. The team ranks second in the league in free throw attempt rate (33.9), but Brooklyn is among the best in the NBA at keeping opponents off the line (ranking first by allowing a free throw attempt rate of 23.0).
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Timberwolves won the first game 100-85. In the loss, Brook Lopez had a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
The Timberwolves are looking to improve on their records of 19-43 Straight Up (SU) and 27-34-1 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 7-3 ATS over their last 10 games. The Timberwolves are a dangerously accurate shooting team from the line with a .794 free throw percentage, one of the highest marks in the NBA.
On the other side, Brooklyn has a SU record of 18-44 and an ATS record of 32-29-1. In Western Conference games, Brooklyn has gone 18-44 SU and 32-29-1 ATS. During the last 10 games, they averaged 105.9 PPG, above their 97.4 PPG season average. Brooklyn’s defense has allowed an average of 113.4 points per game during the last 10 games, higher than their season average of 103.9.
With the Timberwolves’ last win against Brooklyn, their SU record against the Nets moves to 6-4 over the last 10 meetings. Additionally, with a 6-4 record, the Timberwolves have the advantage ATS.
Predictions: SU Winner – Min
Notes
On average, Brooklyn puts up 97.4 points per game (ranked 29th), while Minnesota gives up 105.3 points per game (ranked 24th).
Brooklyn and Minnesota are well matched, ranking 24th in points per away game and points allowed at home respectively. Brooklyn scores an average of 97.7 points on the road, while Minnesota allows 104.4 points at home on average.
When giving up fewer than 100 points, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a 10-7 record. When they don’t reach the century mark, the Brooklyn Nets have a subpar record of 4-32.
At 9-36, the Minnesota Timberwolves have an abysmal record when their opponents score at least 100 points. The Brooklyn Nets are 14-12 when they put up triple digits.
The Nets have a defensive rating of 107.2 (ranked 27th). The Timberwolves rank 12th for their offensive rating of 104.1.
The Minnesota Timberwolves average 97.1 possessions and 1.041 points per possession in games this season. The Brooklyn Nets average fewer possessions with 96.8, as well as fewer points per possession with 1.006.
The Minnesota Timberwolves average an effective field goal percentage of 48.8% this season. The Brooklyn Nets have a subpar record of 12-35 when opponents have an EFF% of 48.8% or greater.
The Minnesota Timberwolves average 15.0 three point attempts per game, while the Brooklyn Nets attempt 17.0. When attempting 25 or more three pointers in a game, both teams have split 1-1 records.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.56, rank 16th in the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets have a lower A/TO (1.53), ranking 19th.
The Timberwolves rank 25th in rebounds per game with 42.3, while the Nets rank 23rd with 42.7 per game.
The Brooklyn Nets rank 18th in offensive rebounding, while the Minnesota Timberwolves rank 26th in defensive rebounding.
Minnesota has forced an average turnover percentage of 14.2% this season. Brooklyn has a losing 10-25 record when its TOV% is 14.2% or higher.
