Nuggets, Timberwolves Rematch in Conference Semis
Timberwolves vs Nuggets Series Odds Has Defending Champs Favored
Timberwolves vs Nuggets series odds are Nuggets -200 and Timberwolves +170. The Nuggets bested the Timberwolves in last year’s playoffs. Oddsmakers are expecting the defending champs to do it again.
The Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in which they handled LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Nuggets needed late-game heroics to win two games and lost to a team they swept last year. That may have some bettors nervous about Denver’s chances of repeating as champions. All in all, the Nuggets escaped the series healthy and without grinding their key players to the ground. They are positioned well to make another run in the West.
In the last round, the Timberwolves completed their first playoff sweep in franchise history, beating the (favored!) sixth-seed Phoenix Suns. The Wolves dominated the Suns, never giving them a chance to make the series competitive. Their league’s best defense was on display, holding the high-scoring Suns’ offense to under 110 points in three of their victories. They also held them to under 100 points in two games. Anthony Edwards had his coming out party in this series, putting up 33, 36, and 40 points in three wins.
With our Timberwolves vs Nuggets series odds, we are going to look at today’s NBA scores, and NBA playoff odds and see if we can give you NBA betting tips for the series.
Timberwolves vs Nuggets 
Records: Minnesota Timberwolves (60-26), Denver Nuggets (61-26)
Location: Games 1, 2, 5, 7 in Denver, Games 3, 4, 6 in Minnesota
Start Date, Time: Stream:Â TBD
Nikola’s Unstoppable Machine
The Nuggets are 40-45-2 against the spread (ATS) and 36-50-1 on over/unders this season. But they are currently on a 19-6 run, straight up. They went 5-5 ATS and 5-5 on over/unders in their last ten games.
In their series with the Lakers, they were 2-3 ATS and 1-4 on over/unders. They currently sit as the second favorites to win the NBA championship at +260 odds and are the heavy favorites to win the Western Conference at +100 (the next closest team is Oklahoma City at +350).
Nikola Jokic, likely on his way to his third NBA MVP award in four years, was spectacular in his first-round series against the Lakers. He led the team and averaged eye-popping playoff stats with 28.2 points, 16.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists. He is currently the all-time NBA leader in playoff player efficiency rating, above Michael Jordan.
Nikola Jokic just had one of the craziest statistical Playoff series EVER and no one is talking about it…
28.2 PTS
16.2 REB
9.8 AST
59.1 FG%No one else is doing this. pic.twitter.com/i2Uda04YBw
— Nuggets World 🌎 (@NuggetsWorldd) April 30, 2024
We expect Jokic to continue his playoff dominance this series, but maybe without as impressive of numbers. Jokic has his work cut out for him on the scoring and the rebounding front, battling against Minnesota’s frontline of seven-footers, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.
The Timberwolves Have Arrived
The Wolves finished the season with a 108.4 defensive rating (one of the best in recent league history)and were 17th in offensive efficiency. The Timberwolves are 44-41-1 ATS and on the over/unders. The Wolves currently have the third-shortest odds to win the NBA championship at +850. They also have the third-shortest to win the Western Conference at +450.
Top 5 leaders in +/- in the 2024 NBA Playoffs:
T-2. Rudy Gobert: +62
3. Anthony Edwards: +60
4. Nickeil Alexander-Walker: +59 pic.twitter.com/33tQR91ZXe— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 1, 2024
The Timberwolves are a threat to upset the Nuggets with their play in round one. Not only were they underdogs as the third seed against a veteran Suns team, but they came out and swept them. Anthony Edwards averaged 31.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists against the Suns, and he will need to dominate similarly if the Wolves are to have a shot.
Last year in the playoffs, the Timberwolves lost 4-1 to the Denver Nuggets. Although they still lost in five games, some believed they put up a better fight against the champions than anyone else.
Nuggets Hopes to Repeat Continue
Timberwolves vs Nuggets series odds are Nuggets -200 and Timberwolves +170. We think these odds are reasonable given the Nuggets play against the Timberwolves last season and their championship pedigree. We expect the Nuggets to win this series, as they did last season, but may give up one or two more games than when they last faced Minnesota.
Another series bet to look at is Nikola Jokic, the series assist leader, -280. Denver Nuggets to win in six games or less is +110. Timberwolves to win series or lose in seven is -145.
Timberwolves vs Nuggets Odds
For the NBA scores, betting analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
