The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets are playing in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, with Game 3 next to come.
The Timberwolves take on the Nuggets. The Timberwolves are favored by 3.5 points against the Nuggets. The point total for the matchup is set at 205.
Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Odds
Point Spread for Timberwolves vs. Nuggets
The spread for this matchup is set at 3.5 points, with oddsmakers listing the Timberwolves as the favorite.
Minnesota vs. Denver Moneyline
As for the moneyline, Minnesota has -175 odds to win the game, while Denver is listed at +145 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the total for the game is set at 205 points.
Game Time and How to Watch
- When: Friday, May 10, 2024 at 9:30 PM ET
- Where: Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- TV: ESPN
Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Betting Trends
The Timberwolves have covered the spread 40 times this season (40-40-2). This season, Minnesota has won 46 out of the 61 games, or 75.4%, in which it has been favored. Timberwolves games have gone over the total 41 times this season.
The Nuggets have put together a 38-42-2 record against the spread this season. Denver has come away with four wins in the 10 contests it has been listed as the underdog this season. Games involving the Nuggets have hit the over 35 times this season.
Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Key Players to Watch
Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards posts 25.9 points, 5.4 boards and 5.1 assists per contest, making 46.1% of shots from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc with 2.4 made 3-pointers per game. Rudy Gobert puts up 14.0 points, 12.9 boards and 1.3 assists per contest, shooting 66.1% from the floor (second in league). Karl-Anthony Towns’ numbers for the season are 21.8 points, 8.3 boards and 3.0 assists per contest, shooting 50.4% from the field and 41.6% from downtown, with 2.2 made 3-pointers per game. Naz Reid puts up 13.5 points, 5.2 boards and 1.3 assists per contest. Defensively, he averages 0.8 steals and 0.9 blocks.
Nuggets
Nikola Jokic gets the Nuggets 26.4 points, 12.4 boards and 9.0 assists per contest. He also averages 1.4 steals (seventh in NBA) and 0.9 blocks. Michael Porter Jr. gets 16.7 points, 7.0 boards and 1.5 assists per game, plus 0.5 steals and 0.7 blocks. Jamal Murray’s numbers for the season are 21.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game, making 48.1% of his shots from the field and 42.5% from beyond the arc (10th in NBA), with 2.5 triples per contest. The Nuggets receive 13.9 points per game from Aaron Gordon, plus 6.5 boards and 3.5 assists.
What you need to know about the Timberwolves
The Timberwolves own a top-five defense this year, ranking best in the league with 106.5 points allowed per game. Offensively, they rank 18th with 113.0 points scored per contest. The Timberwolves are averaging 43.6 rebounds per game this season (15th-ranked in NBA), and they’ve given up only 41.4 rebounds per contest (fourth-best). The Timberwolves are delivering 26.6 assists per game, which ranks them 15th in the NBA in 2023-24.
Offensively, Minnesota scores 112.0 points per game in home games, compared to 114.0 points per game on the road. Minnesota is sinking 12.6 treys per game this year (15th-ranked in NBA), and it sports a 38.7% three-point percentage (third-best). Minnesota is allowing opposing teams to post a 35.4% three-point percentage this year (sixth-ranked in NBA), but it has shined by giving up just 11.4 three-pointers per game (third-best).
The Timberwolves have a 6-4 record against the spread while going 8-2 overall over their past 10 games. Minnesota has hit the over in six of its last 10 contests. The Timberwolves’ offense has been better over their last 10 games, racking up 113.7 points per contest compared to the 113.0 they’ve averaged this year. Minnesota’s defense has been more stingy as of late, as the team has given up 106.0 points per game during its past 10 compared to the 106.5 points per game its opponents are averaging on the season.
What you need to know about the Nuggets
The Nuggets put up 114.9 points per game and give up 109.6, making them 14th in the NBA on offense and sixth on defense. Denver grabs 44.4 rebounds per game and give up 42.3 boards, ranking seventh and seventh, respectively, in the NBA. This season the Nuggets are third-best in the NBA in assists at 29.5 per game.
The Nuggets average 118.5 points per game at home, and 111.2 on the road. With 11.7 made 3-pointers per game and shooting 37.4% from beyond the arc, the Nuggets are 25th and ninth in the league, respectively, in those categories. Defensively, Denver is second-best in the NBA in 3-pointers conceded per game at 11.2. It is eighth in 3-point percentage allowed at 35.5%.
The Nuggets have a 4-6 record against the spread while going 6-4 overall in their past 10 contests. Denver has hit the over in four of its past 10 outings. While Denver is putting up 114.9 points per game in 2023-24, it has fallen short of that over its previous 10 games, amassing 108.4 points per contest. While the Nuggets are ceding 109.6 points per game in 2023-24, they have bettered that mark in their previous 10 games, allowing 108.3 points per contest.
Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Prediction & Pick
Our prediction to win this game is Timberwolves, and we expect that Timberwolves will cover the spread (Timberwolves -3.5). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going over the posted total of 205 points.
How to bet Timberwolves vs. Nuggets
You can bet on Minnesota vs. Denver at every legal online sportsbook. For more college basketball odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals, check out the latest NCAA lines as well as our guide to the best college basketball betting sites.
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