The Minnesota Timberwolves made sure they’re not going to be swept in the first round, as they eked out a 121-105 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 2 on Saturday. Can the Timberwolves tie the series up at 2-2 this Monday? Or will the Rockets get back to their winning ways and go up 3-1?
Register here to make your pick
Betting Preview for Houston Rockets vs Minnesota Timberwolves NBA Western Conference Round 1 Game 4 on April 23, 2018
Where: Target Center
When: Monday, April 23, 2018, 7:30 PM EST
Line: Houston Rockets (spread) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (spread) – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT,FSNO
Betting on the Houston Rockets (-5.5)
James Harden bounced back from a relatively bad outing in Game 2 in which he only had 12 points on 2-for-18 shooting and had 29 points on Sunday in Game 3. It was all for naught, though, as Houston suffered its first loss of the series. Chris Paul, meanwhile, had 17. There’s no need to panic for Houston, of course, but the Rockets will have to worry about their defense that was a little bit loose in Game 3, allowing Minnesota shoot 50 percent from the field for the first time in this series. Clint Capela has to do a better job of containing Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns, who finally had a solid performance in this series on Saturday. The Rockets have to bottle up KAT before he gains even more confidence.
The Rockets are 3-3 ATS in their last six games against Minnesota.
Betting on the Minnesota Timberwolves (+5.5)
At long last, Karl-Anthony Towns have a game in this series he could be proud of. Towns had 18 points and 16 rebounds in Game 3, and while he only went 5-for-13 from the field, he finally played with a sense of urgency and aggressiveness. Even Jeff Teague and Jimmy Butler had it going, as he scattered 23 points in 41 minutes after putting up just eight points in Game 2. Butler scored 28 points and finished with a game high of +19. The Rockets are hard to beat, but if these players could get it going, the Timberwolves should be able to keep in step with a Houston team that is now dealing with pressure for probably the first time in this postseason. The Timberwolves also had 29 assists on 45 made baskets in Game 3.
Minnesota is 3-0 ATS in its last three home games. Couple that with the Rockets’ current 3-3 ATS record against the Timberwolves and you might want to take the points.
Writer’s Prediction:
Houston wins, 111-108.
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