Minnesota Timberwolves at Sacramento Kings ATS Prediction

Daniel GimenezBasketball, NBA

The Sacramento Kings (6-5) welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-8) to Golden 1 Center. The Timberwolves can snap a seven-game road losing streak. The game starts at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, November 9, 2018, and will air on Fox Sports North Plus.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Sacramento Kings ATS Odds

Both teams were beaten in their last matchup. The Timberwolves (6-point underdogs) were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers, 114-110, while the Kings (8.5-point underdogs) fell to the Toronto Raptors, 114-105. The Minnesota game went 15 points under the projected point total of 239, while the Sacramento game finished 13.5 points under the projected point total of 232.5.

Minnesota had a better turnover percentage (13.6 vs. 14.1) while Sacramento forced Toronto into a turnover percentage of 17.6 (above their season average of 11.4). Sacramento’s Willie Cauley-Stein had a good outing, finishing with 24 points and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Minnesota received a boost from Taj Gibson, who finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The Timberwolves dominated this series last year, securing victories in all three games. In the last contest, Minnesota won 118-100. Minnesota made good use of their 36 trips to the free throw line, making 33 of them (91.7 percent). Sacramento, meanwhile, was 12-13 (92.3 percent). This will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams.

Matchups involving the Timberwolves tend to go under the projected point total (58.3 percent). Minnesota holds records of 4-8 straight up (SU) and 5-7 against the spread (ATS).

Unlike Minnesota, games involving the Kings tend to go over the total (63.6 percent). Additionally, Sacramento is 6-5 SU and 7-4 ATS.

The Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns has been playing at a high level over his last five games, averaging 21.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.6 steals per game. Meanwhile, Buddy Hield has averaged 23.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists during that same time frame for the Kings.

The elite offense of Sacramento will clash against the bottom-tier defense of Minnesota. The Kings rank fourth in effective field goal percentage (0.553), while the Timberwolves are 26th in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.543). The Kings figure to have the advantage on that end of the court. Moreover, the Timberwolves commit the second-fewest errors in the league (turnover percentage of 11.9 percent), while the gambling defense of the Kings causes the fourth-most (opponents’ turnover percentage of 15.6 percent).

Minnesota Timberwolves at Sacramento Kings ATS Pick

Free NBA Pick: SU Winner – Timberwolves, ATS Winner – Timberwolves, O/U – Under

Betting Notes:

  • The Kings average 44.5 rebounds per game, which ranks 17th in the NBA. The Timberwolves rank 27th in rebounds allowed per game (50.1).
  • Minnesota ranks first in steals allowed per game (6.1) while Sacramento ranks 24th (8.5).
  • The Kings rank sixth in assists per game (25.5) while the Timberwolves rank 23rd in assists allowed per game (25.8).
  • Minnesota averages 14.4 second chance points per game, which ranks ninth in the league. Sacramento ranks 24th in second chance points allowed per game (16.0).
  • Minnesota ranks fourth in blocks per game (6.3) while Sacramento ranks 18th (4.7).
  • The Kings average 56.9 points in the paint per game, which ranks third in the league. The Timberwolves rank 24th in points allowed in the paint per game (51.2).
  • The Timberwolves average 16.4 fast break points per game, which ranks seventh in the NBA. The Kings rank 22nd in fast break points allowed per game (16.3).
  • Minnesota averages 30.6 three pointers per game, which ranks 18th in the league. Sacramento ranks 26th in three pointers allowed per game (37.4).
  • Sacramento ranks third in points off turnovers per game (20.8) while Minnesota ranks 24th (15.3).
  • When allowing below 100 points, Sacramento is 2-0 and Minnesota is 1-0.
  • The Kings are 5-5 when they score over 100 points, while the Timberwolves are 4-5.
  • Sacramento is 3-1 ATS at home, while Minnesota is 2-5 ATS on the road.
  • The total has gone under in 3 of the Kings’ 4 home games, while 5 of the Timberwolves’ 7 road games have gone under.

Bettings Trends:

  • The Kings are 3-2 ATS over their last five games, while the Timberwolves are 2-3.
  • In their last five games, Sacramento has 3 overs and 2 unders, while Minnesota has 4 unders and 1 over.
  • During their last five games, the Kings have scored an average of 118.0 points per game (0.5 above their season average) and allowed an average of 117.0 points per game (1.8 below their season average).
  • The Timberwolves’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 11.8, up from 6.8 for the season.