The Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves will travel to the Target Center to play a game. The game starts at 8:00 pm ET on Thursday, Nov. 5 and can be seen on SUN and FS+.
The Timberwolves were beaten by the Trail Blazers 106-101 on Monday. Ricky Rubio had a solid performance for Minnesota, recording 12 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. The Heat, meanwhile, are coming off a 98-92 loss against the Hawks on Tuesday. Miami still lost despite the best efforts of Hassan Whiteside, who recorded his second double-double of the season with 23 points and 14 rebounds.
The Timberwolves, a three-point underdog, will look to capitalize at home against Miami. The matchup currently has a 201-point Over/Under (O/U). The Timberwolves enter this game with records of 2-1 Straight Up (SU) and Against The Spread (ATS). Minnesota’s three-point defense can be considered for best in the league, allowing an NBA-low 23 three-pointers (7.0 per game).
As for their opponent, Miami has identical records of 2-2 SU and ATS so far. The Heat are shooting lights out from the foul line so far, with a .838 free throw percentage that ranks second in the NBA. Shifting to the other side of the court, teams don’t seem to hit many three-pointers against the Heat, who are fifth in the league in terms of three-point field goals allowed at 29 this season.
This game marks the season’s first head-to-head clash between these two. Their previous game was a Timberwolves victory, but the Heat still lead the head-to-head record over the last 10, 8-2 SU. With an 8-2 record, the Heat also have the advantage ATS.
Predictions: SU Winner – Mia, ATS Winner – Mia, O/U – Under
Notes
Minnesota is 2-13 SU in its last 15 games.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Minnesota’s last 10 games at home.
Minnesota is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Minnesota is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games at home.
Minnesota is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Miami.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Minnesota’s last 8 games when playing Miami.
Minnesota is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games when playing Miami.
Minnesota is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Miami.
Minnesota is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Miami.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Minnesota’s last 6 games when playing at home against Miami.
On average, Miami puts up 99.2 points per game (ranked 19th), while Minnesota allows 98.3 points per game (ranked ninth).
When allowing fewer than 100 points, Miami is 2-1. When scoring less than 100, Minnesota is a perfect 1-0.
The Miami Heat are winless this season (0-1) in games where they have allowed at least 100 points. The Minnesota Timberwolves have an even record of 1-1 when they hit triple digits.
The Heat have the fifth-best offensive rating in the NBA (104.1). The Timberwolves are also in the top half of the league based on their defensive rating of 95.2 (ranked seventh).
The Minnesota Timberwolves average a field goal percentage of 43.8% this season. The Miami Heat are a winless 0-1 when opponents have a FG% of 43.8% or greater.
The Minnesota Timberwolves rank higher in field goal percentage (15th) than effective field goal percentage (23rd), while the Miami Heat rank the same for both metrics (fifth).
Minnesota has an assist to turnover ratio of 1.60 this season (ranked eighth), while Miami ranks lower at 14th with an A/TO of 1.45.
The Timberwolves rank 22nd in rebounds per game with 43.0, while the Heat rank 16th with 44.0 per game.
The Miami Heat rank 27th in offensive rebounding, while the Minnesota Timberwolves rank 12th in defensive rebounding.
Miami has forced an average turnover percentage of 13.4% this season. Minnesota is an even 1-1 when its TOV% is 13.4% or higher.
