Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 4/23/18, Prediction & Odds

Rockets vs. Timberwolves Pick

The Minnesota Timberwolves made a statement on their home floor in Game 3 that they will not go quietly versus the top-seeded Houston Rockets. Is a bet on the Timberwolves smart as they look to even the series at 2-2 tonight?

Game Snapshot

509 Houston Rockets at 510 Minnesota Timberwolves

Monday, April 23, 2018

Target Center at 8PM ET

TV: TNT

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Public Betting Information

According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Rockets are a 5.5-point favorite on the spread line. The over-under is set at 219 points. As of Monday afternoon, 66 percent of public bets are coming in on visiting Houston. Check out our NBA Public Betting Page for up-to-date information.

Butler looking like old self 

Minnesota shooting guard Jimmy Butler missed a month with a knee injury and has been banged up a bit during the playoffs, but he continues to power through and was at the forefront of guiding the T-Wolves to a 121-105 home win over the Rockets in Game 3. Butler played 41 minutes as head coach Tom Thibodeau was up to his normal tricks of playing the starters as many minutes as they can handle. Butler scored 28 points on 10-of-19 shooting including 4-of-6 from the floor, while adding seven rebounds along with five assists and a steal. Butler had seen 36 minutes in Game 1 and 25 in Game 2, but in the biggest game of the season he rarely left the floor. Expect to see him around the 40-minute mark again tonight.

Anderson finds shooting stroke

One encouraging sign for Houston in the 16-point loss was that power forward Ryan Anderson canned four 3-pointers on six attempts, one of the few on the roster who could find their range as the Rockets went 15-of-41 from 3-point range as a team. Anderson had not played since spraining his ankle in a home game versus Washington on April 3, so to come right back and provide valuable minutes off the bench is a positive. While Anderson can be streaky and has better shooting numbers on the road the last couple years, his ability to spread the floor for the NBA's best offense make him an important role player.

NBA Betting Trends

Houston

The under is 5-0 in the last five Rockets games after an ATS loss. The over is 15-5 in the last 20 meetings.

Minnesota 

The Timberwolves are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall. Minnesota is 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings.

Prediction:

Minnesota had a shot at the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference before the Butler injury. While the T-Wolves struggled without him, Butler's return helped get them in the playoffs and now a postseason win after two losses at Houston. Minnesota is 31-11 straight up at home this season and should do enough to make this game go down to the wire and at least cover the 5.5 if not win outright.

NBA DAILY PREDICTION: MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES +5.5

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