Minnesota Timberwolves vs Houston Rockets Betting Pick & Prediction 12/27/24

At 8:00 ET, the Houston Rockets (-118) will host the Minnesota Timberwolves (-102) in a Western Conference matchup. The Rockets are currently favored by 1 point and have won four straight games.

This game will be played at the Toyota Center in Houston and can be seen on SCHN. Minnesota is 15-14 and 9th in the West, while Houston is 21-9 and 2nd in the conference.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES VS HOUSTON ROCKETS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Houston Rockets -1

This game will be played at Toyota Center at 8:00 ET on Friday, December 27th.

WHY BET THE HOUSTON ROCKETS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 134-124 in favor of the Rockets.
• Our projections have Jalen Green finishing with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
• From the field, we have the Rockets finishing with a field goal percentage of 45.9% and knocking down 13 threes.

Will the Timberwolves Win in Houston?

The Timberwolves moved above .500 with a 105-99 win over the Mavericks on Wednesday, improving to 15-14 for the season. Minnesota, who were +5 point underdogs, not only won straight up but also covered the spread. The game’s total of 204 points fell well short of the 222.5-point O/U line.

Minnesota took control by outscoring Dallas 31-16 in the 2nd quarter and extended their lead to 90-68 after the 3rd. A 10-0 run by the Mavericks in the 4th made things interesting, but the Timberwolves held on despite being outscored 31-15 in the final period.

Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves to a win over the Mavericks with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, hitting 4 threes at 57.1%. Julius Randle added 23 points and 10 boards, making 3 threes at 60%. Rudy Gobert contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 85.7% from the field.

As a team, the Timberwolves hit 14 threes at 43.8%, with an overall shooting percentage of 46.5%. Donte DiVincenzo scored 9 of his 11 points in the 2nd quarter.

The Timberwolves put together a strong defensive performance on Wednesday, holding the Mavericks to just 99 points. They were especially effective in the 2nd quarter, giving up only 16 points. Overall, Minnesota limited Dallas to 41% shooting from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Mavericks hit 16 threes at a 37% rate. The Timberwolves sent them to the line 11 times, where they were perfect. Minnesota also recorded 8 steals and 5 blocks in the game.

Will the Rockets Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?

The Rockets improved to 21-9 this season with a 128-111 win over the Pelicans on Thursday. Houston, favored by 7 points, covered the spread with a 17-point victory. The game’s total score of 239 points exceeded the over/under line of 221.5 by 17.5 points.

A key moment came when the Rockets went on a 12-0 run, turning a 26-20 deficit into a 32-26 lead. Houston dominated the 1st quarter, outscoring New Orleans 39-22, and took control with a 41-31 3rd quarter, leading 102-74 going into the 4th.

Jalen Green’s 30 points and 6 threes led the Rockets to a 128-111 win over the Pelicans, shooting 57.1% from the field and 54.5% from deep. Fred VanVleet added 25 points, hitting 7 threes at 58.3%, while Cam Whitmore contributed 27 points, connecting on 4 threes at 50%.

Houston made 18 threes, shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc and 47.4% overall. Green scored 16 points in the 1st quarter, while VanVleet added 15 in the 3rd. Whitmore scored 13 points in the 4th quarter.

The Rockets’ defense shined in the 1st half, giving up just 22 points in the 1st quarter and 21 in the 2nd, but they struggled in the 4th, allowing 37 points. Overall, they held the Pelicans to 111 points on 43% shooting.

From beyond the arc, Houston limited New Orleans to 12 threes on 32% shooting. The Pelicans also went 13/18 from the free-throw line. The Rockets recorded 7 steals and 9 blocks in the game.