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The Minnesota Timberwolves (42-40) will try to prove the oddsmakers wrong as slight 2-point underdogs for Game 3 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs, and will face off against the Denver Nuggets at Target Center on Friday, tipping off at 9:30 PM ET on ESPN. The Nuggets are on top 2-0 in the series. The matchup has a 221 point total.
How to bet Nuggets vs. Timberwolves
Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Odds
Point Spread
The spread for this matchup is set at 2 points, with sportsbooks listing the Nuggets as the favorites.
Moneyline
As for the moneyline, the Nuggets have -130 odds to pick up the win, while the Timberwolves are listed at +109 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the total for the game is set at 221 points.
Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Game Time and How to Watch
- Game Day: Friday, April 21, 2023
- Game Time: 9:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Arena: Target Center
Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Betting Trends
Against the spread, the Nuggets are 44-36-2 this year. Denver has been the favorite in 61 games this season and has come away with the win 43 times (70.5%) in those contests. Nuggets games this year have gone over the point total 45.1% of the time (37 out of 82 games with a set point total).
Against the spread, the Timberwolves are 39-41-2 this season. Minnesota has a 21-22 record in games it was listed as the moneyline underdog (winning 48.8% of those games). The Timberwolves have eclipsed the over/under 45.1% of the time this year (37 of 82 games with a set point total).
Potential Starting Lineups and Key Players
Nuggets
| Name | GP | PTS | REB | ASST | STL | BLK | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | 69 | 24.5 | 11.8 | 9.8 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Jamal Murray | 65 | 20 | 4 | 6.2 | 1 | 0.2 | 2.6 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 62 | 17.4 | 5.5 | 1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 3 |
| Aaron Gordon | 68 | 16.3 | 6.6 | 3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| Bruce Brown | 80 | 11.5 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 |
Timberwolves
| Name | GP | PTS | REB | ASST | STL | BLK | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Edwards | 79 | 24.6 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 2.7 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 29 | 20.8 | 8.1 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 2.1 |
| Rudy Gobert | 70 | 13.4 | 11.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0 |
| Mike Conley | 67 | 11.9 | 2.7 | 6.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2 |
| Jaylen Nowell | 65 | 10.8 | 2.6 | 2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1 |
Nuggets: Nikola Jokic: Probable (Wrist)
Timberwolves: Naz Reid: Out (Wrist), Jaden McDaniels: Out (Hand), Rudy Gobert: Questionable (Back), Jaylen Nowell: Questionable (Knee), Josh Minott: Questionable (Ankle)
What you need to know about the Denver Nuggets
Denver is 12th in the NBA with 115.8 points per game so far this year. At the other end, it ranks eighth with 112.5 points allowed per contest. Offensively the Nuggets have played better when playing at home this year, scoring 119.4 points per game, compared to 112.2 per game when playing on the road. The Nuggets’ offense has been much less productive over their last 10 games, scoring 108.1 points a contest compared to the 115.8 they’ve averaged this year.
With a 37.9% three-point percentage this season, Denver is fourth-best in the NBA. It ranks 18th in the league by making 11.8 treys per contest. In terms of shot breakdown, the Nuggets have taken 63.9% two-pointers (accounting for 72.9% of the team’s buckets) and 36.1% three-pointers (27.1%).
What you need to know about the Minnesota Timberwolves
Offensively Minnesota is the 12th-ranked squad in the league (115.8 points per game). Defensively it is 18th (115.8 points allowed per game). At home, the Timberwolves score 115.9 points per game. On the road, they score 115.6. While the Timberwolves are putting up 115.8 points per game in 2022-23, they have fallen short of that over their last 10 games, tallying 109.8 points per contest.
Minnesota makes 12.2 3-pointers per game and shoots 36.5% from beyond the arc, ranking 13th and 13th, respectively, in the league. The Timberwolves take 38.1% percent of their shots from behind the 3-point line, and 28.4% of their made baskets are from there. Inside the 3-point line, they attempt 61.9% of their shots, with 71.6% of their makes coming from there.
Our pick to win this matchup is the Nuggets, and we predict that Timberwolves will cover the spread (Nuggets -2). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going over the posted total of 221 points.
You can bet on Nuggets vs. Timberwolves at every legal online sportsbook. For more NBA odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals as well as NBA prop odds, check out the latest NBA lines as well as our guide to the best NBA betting sites.
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