NBA fans are treated to a banger of a series when the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves battle in Round 2.
The pregame narrative: Minnesota just swept the Phoenix Suns while Denver took care of the Los Angeles Lakers in five. Nikola Jokic and Co. are favoured to advance to the Western Conference Finals but I'm backing the T-Wolves in Game 1.
Check out the Timberwolves vs. Nuggets series odds for their second-round matchup beginning May 4.
Timberwolves vs. Nuggets series odds
Denver has earned its -215 odds to advance.
The reigning champions continued their dominance over L.A. with a gentlemen's sweep. It won all three home games, which could be the difference in this series.
The Nuggets went 33-8 at Ball Arena during the regular season with a +10.1 net rating (third-best in NBA). They're an even better 13-1 at home in the playoffs dating back to last season.
| Series betting markets | Odds |
| Nuggets to win series | -215 |
| Timberwolves to win series | +172 |
| Nuggets -1.5 games | -104 |
| Timberwolves +1.5 games | -129 |
| Over 5.5 games | -177 |
| Under 5.5 games | +130 |
That includes three games against the T-Wolves in the first round of 2023.
Denver beat Minnesota in five games to kick off its title run. The Timberwolves' only win came in overtime, at home.
But Chris Finch's team looks different this year.
Led by a burgeoning star in Anthony Edwards, the T-Wolves finished with the fourth-most wins (56) in the NBA. That was only one win behind the Nuggets.
Minnesota rocked Phoenix in the opening round, winning all four games while going 4-0 ATS with a +13.9 net rating (third-best in playoffs). Three of its wins came by double-digits.
The T-Wolves and Nuggets split their regular-season series, 2-2.
Game 1 best bet
Best bet: Timberwolves +4 (-112)
Denver's dominance at home is undeniable but its series against Los Angeles was closer than it looked.
The Lakers kept two of three games at Ball Arena within two points. L.A. probably should have won Game 2, also, but it blew a 20-point second-half lead.
The Nuggets' +3.7 playoff net rating is good, but not great. They're 2-3 ATS (1-2 at home) and rank a pedestrian eight of 16 in offensive rating.
Minnesota's only played one fewer game than Denver but its series couldn't have been more different.
The T-Wolves utterly dominated the Suns. They pace the playoffs in offensive rating (123.2) and are also first in rebounding rate (58.2%).
Minny handed Denver one of its eight home losses this season. I expect the T-Wolves to come out flying in Game 1.
Quick pick
Edwards over 26.5 points (-127)
Edwards has arrived and he's a problem.
The fourth-year shooting guard put on a show in the first round, averaging 31.0 points per game on 51.2% shooting. He scored 40 points to close out the Suns on the road.
The T-Wolves are going to need a special performance from Edwards to get past Denver and that's what I'm expecting.
He went under this mark in three of four games versus the Nuggets this season but was within a bucket of clearing this total in each game, never finishing with fewer than 24 points.
Edwards takes things to another level in the postseason. He cleared this mark in four of five playoff games against Denver last year while averaging 31.6 PPG.
Picks as of 2:07 p.m. on 05/02/2024.