At home, the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-5) should be a better team than the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets (1-8), who enter Saturday’s matchup at Target Center on a five-game losing streak. However, there are some possible extenuating circumstances.
If you’re looking to do some last-minute betting research for the Rockets-Timberwolves tussle, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, money line odds and over/under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet at BetMGM.
The game starts at 7 p.m. Central and can be seen via AT&T SportsNet Southwest (in Houston markets) or on NBA League Pass.
The case for optimism with the Rockets is that they haven’t played since Wednesday, whereas the Timberwolves are on night two of a back-to-back after playing a hard-fought game Friday versus the Bucks — likely the NBA’s 2022-23 title favorite at the moment.
The case for pessimism is that Houston owns the NBA’s worst record and is dead last in offensive rating, while the Timberwolves own a top-10 defense. That’s a tough combination against a Minnesota squad that has plenty of scorers, as well, headlined by the likes of Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony-Towns.
The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: Timberwolves -7.5
- Money line: Timberwolves -350 / Rockets +260
- Over-under: 233.5
Click here to place your bets at BetMGM.
Rockets at Timberwolves injury report:
- Rockets: Jae’Sean Tate out (right ankle soreness), TyTy Washington out (left knee sprain), Bruno Fernando out (left knee soreness), Jabari Smith Jr. out (illness)
- Timberwolves: Rudy Gobert out (health and safety protocols)
Advice and prediction
Even with a rest advantage, Houston traveling to Minnesota initially appeared a rough matchup, since the Timberwolves usually have the type of paint presence with Gobert that can hold down Houston’s best player to date in Sengun. However, with Gobert out due to health and safety protocols, we’ll take the Rockets to cover.
Prediction: Timberwolves 118, Rockets 112
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
