Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Odds: Healthy Nuggets Set to Cook
Jokic & Company Ready to Rumble

tie_index]Timberwolves Back in the Playoffs[/tie_index]
Timberwolves Back in the Playoffs
The Minnesota Timberwolves were emphatic winners in their play-in elimination to secure their chance to match up with the Denver Nuggets. Let’s dive into the Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Odds and see what we can expect from the 1 v 8 first-round series.
The Nuggets have been patiently waiting to find out who their first-round opponent would be as they enjoyed an extended rest to leave them primed and ready for a deep playoff run. Despite finishing as the top seed in the Western Conference there’s not a lot of support or belief that Denver can make a legitimate run at reaching the NBA Finals.
While their record-setting offense cooled off in the final month of the season it’s the below-average defense that has raised the most question marks around the teams credentials.
Minnesota meanwhile will be happy to be back in the playoffs after a turbulent season that has seen them face far more adversity than expected following some big offseason moves last year.
Injuries hampered their progress throughout the season and the teams ceiling is certainly better than a usual #8 seed given they’re finally healthy and able to perform to the top of their projected metrics.
The Denver Nuggets have been listed as -500 favorites to win the series, with the -1.5 games handicap also juiced at -180 for the top seed. These teams split their season series 2-2, with the home team winning on each occasion.
tie_index]All Eyes on Jokic[/tie_index]
All Eyes on Jokic
While Denver’s ceiling largely centers around how their role players perform in the playoffs their floor is centered on the impact Nikola Jokic has in each matchup.
The two-time reigning MVP has been criticized for his playoff performances in recent seasons, but this will be the first time he’s had his full supporting cast available for him to play as a playmaker and scorer.
A matchup with Rudy Gobert poses an intriguing edge for Jokic, who has traditionally played him well at both ends of the floor. His craftiness and footwork seem to nullify Gobert’s shotblocking ability and the off ball cutting with Jokic at the top of the key creates a lot of confusion on Gobert’s part on how to best defend the rim.
Denver put up 146 points in their most recent home meeting against the Timberwolves, with their prior meeting at altitude also seeing them score 122 points. In those home games Jokic averaged 25.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 14.5 assists – both of those games were with Gobert matched up on him.
That domination against the Frenchman isn’t just isolated to this season; in his two home meetings against Gobert last season when he was on the Jazz he averaged 25.5 points, 18 rebounds and 12.5 assists. Taking Jokic’s Points, Rebounds & Assists lines will all be in play in this matchup and attacking his rebound and assists numbers specifically look an appealing option as well.
In fact, taking alt lines for his rebounds and assists are one of the sharper NBA picks and parlays options.
Ultimately, Denver’s halfcourt offense is likely to be too much for Minnesota to try and contain given the mismatch that Jokic provides on the inside. If Minnesota tries to cheat and double – The Joker is too good at recognizing the defense and finding the open man for high percentage looks beyond the arc.
Simply put, Minnesota’s offense can’t keep pace in a shootout and that’s largely how this figures to shape out for Denver.
tie_index]The Stage is Set For Anthony Edwards[/tie_index]
The Stage is Set for Anthony Edwards
Last seasons playoffs put Anthony Edwards on the map in the world of NBA superstars and now he’s set to return with the chance to really establish himself as a future face of the league.
In a series where matchup advantages are paramount there’s arguably no better point of attack for Minnesota than Edwards. Denver’s best wing defender, Aaron Gordon, will likely be tasked with trying to contain Karl-Anthony Towns and their guards simply don’t have the strength or size to match up to Edwards.
Edwards has averaged 24.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in their two wins over the Nuggets this season. His explosiveness and ability to collapse a defense makes him integral in a matchup where lanes to the basket will be available to attack, even in halfcourt sets.
The biggest question for Chris Finch to manage is how to best deploy his two bigs in Gobert and Towns. Staggering the pair could provide an area of opportunity for Minnesota to take advantage in the non-Jokic minutes while also providing the Serbian star with different in-game dynamics to have to manage depending on who is on the floor.
One thing to monitor this series will be the total and given how both offenses stack up there’s a fair case to be made that blind betting the Overs will be a profitable strategy in this matchup. Looking at NBA scores and odds between these teams it’s evident that Denver is willing to push pace to get their offense going early in the shot clock.
Their offense will likely look to do the same again and we’ve seen time and again that forcing Minnesota into an up-and-down game is the best way to disrupt their offense.
I’d be looking at attacking Denver’s Team Total Overs in all their home games in this series along with Jokic props in that matchup with Gobert as the series best bets. That’s all for our Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Odds preview for now. Make sure to check back for all our NBA playoffs predictions and analysis right here at PointSpreads.com.
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