Minnesota at Houston
Time: 8:30 PM CT (TNT)
Spread: HOU -10
Total: 214.5
Odds c/o 5dimes
We stated a bold notion in the series preview of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets, basically asserting that though the Minnesota T-Wolves are one of the best No. 8 seeds in recent history, they stand little to no chance against the 65-win Houston Rockets. The Rockets held that notion true in barely edging out Minny in Game 1 to walk away 1-0 series leaders with a 104-101 victory in a thriller. Game 2 is not likely to be as close, with NBA oddsmakers setting the line a full 10-points in favor of James Harden’s Rockets.
The game will tip off last of the three on the slate tonight at 8:30 PM (CT) on TNT. The betting total is 214,5, which is 9.5 points more than what was scored collectively in the series opener. It is not outlandish, however, given that the Rox possess the league’s highest-scoring offense while maintaining a top-10 defense.
Dare say, that is a championship formula, but before those notions can take flight the Rockets must dispose of the improved T-Wolves. Karl-Anthony Towns probably won’t make that an easy task.
Towns struggled mightily in game 1, however. Not only was he limited to a mere eight points on 3 of 9 shooting, but Houston’s Clint Capela had dropped a 20-10 performance…by halftime. Capela finished with 24 points and 12 boards and three blocks while posting a team-best (Tied) +7 for his 34 minutes of court time. Harden was nothing short of phenomenal. Beard shot 15 of 26 while dialing up seven triples en route to 44 points and eight dimes. Chris Paul was quieter with 14 and 4, but expect the veteran to bounce back gracefully with so little pressure being felt by Houston, who is playing loose basketball and getting all hands on the ball in its shared offensive attack.
Though Houston had just 15 assists in Game 1, the Rockets also turned it over only 11 times which enabled it to overcome a 10-rebound deficit. Even if Houston does not rebound the ball that well, they possess the three-point firepower to turn this into a blowout, while Minnesota mustered only eight threes in Game 1, a fairly typical outing from a team mostly bereft of major distance shooters.
Even so, Minnesota now has the veteran leadership it lacked a year ago with Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson gracefully melding into their former coach’s new team. Both excelled under Tom Thibodeau in Chicago, though both had their respective issues in Game 1. Butler scored just 13 points and Gibson was largely ineffective despite being efficient in what he did do: 4 of 6 from the floor for nine points and six rebounds.
No Minnesota starters finished with a positive differential, though, and its bench was only mildly effective in the form of Derrick Rose and Jamal Crawford combining to score 31 points between them. But that was not enough to overcome a single-digit scoring outing by Towns, never mind the fact that Andrew Wiggins led all Wolves scorers without even mustering 20. Minnesota is not a good enough defensive team to weather its droughts, too, which is why on a night it shoots 43 percent from the floor chances at victory more or less evaporate like the Minnesota lakes on a rare hot day.
The Wolves did control the ball well with 22 assists to its 13 turnovers, but a poor first quarter must be avoided as Minny trailed by six after one in Game 1. Beyond the lack of three-point explosion and mediocre defense, the Wolves really possess few x-factors that could make a tremendous difference in this series, while Capela already demonstrated he is just that. His first half was nothing short of dominant against one of the league’s premier 5-men in KAT.
Houston typically gets more from its bench than it did in Game 1, but Eric Gordon will not shoot 3 of 10 every night, and Joe Johnson might prove crucial when it is least expected (write that down). Houston triumphs in a bigger way than Game 1 and possibly wins this by a 20-piece.
