*These NBA Playoff picks are done the morning of game day, adjust picks should spreads and lineups change.
MINNESOTA @ DENVER
WESTERN CONFERENCE 2ND ROUND – GAME 1
TEAM TRENDS
- The Nuggets have won 14 of their last 15 playoff home games.
- The Timberwolves have covered the spread in their last 6 playoff games.
- 7 of the Nuggets’ last 8 playoff games went Unders.
- The Nuggets lost the first quarter in 6 of their last 7 playoff games.
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| MIN | 56 | 26 | 30-11 | 26-15 |
| DEN | 57 | 25 | 33-8 | 24-17 |
SEASON POINTS +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | TOT.AV. |
| MIN | 113.0 | 106.5 | +6.5 | 219.5 |
| DEN | 114.9 | 109.6 | +5.3 | 224.5 |
SEASON MATCHUPS
TIED 2-2
| 11.04.24 | DEN | MIN | 116:107 |
| 30.03.24 | DEN | MIN | 98:111 |
| 20.03.24 | MIN | DEN | 112:115 |
| 02.11.23 | MIN | DEN | 110:89 |
PICKS ATS
| SPREAD | POINTS | RESULT |
| DEN | OVER | MIN |
| -4.5 | 207.5 | 106-99 |
THE RUB
In a highly anticipated matchup, the Timberwolves and Nuggets will clash in Game 1 of their Western Conference Semi-final at Ball Arena on Saturday.
This postseason encounter follows last year’s playoff duel, where the Nuggets prevailed in five games. The regular-season series between these teams ended in a 2-2 tie, with Nikola Jokic leading the charge with an average of 33.3 points per game.
Denver advanced to this stage after dispatching the Lakers in five games behind Jokic’s 28.2 points, 16.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game.
On the other hand, Minnesota enters the series with momentum, having swept Phoenix behind Anthony Edwards’ 31.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game, marking the franchise’s first playoff series win since 2004.
The stage is set for an exciting showdown.
PLAYER TRENDS
- Karl-Anthony Towns has a double-double in his last 9 playoff road games.
- Naz Reid scored 12+ points in his last 7 games.
- Anthony Edwards scored 29+ points in the Timberwolves’ last 6 playoff games as underdogs.
- Karl-Anthony Towns has 9+ rebounds in 11 of his last 12 road games against the Nuggets.
- Michael Porter Jr. has 20+ points in the Nuggets’ last 4 games.
- Jamal Murray has 5+ rebounds in each of the Nuggets’ last 5 Game 1s.
- Mike Conley has 4 rebounds in each of the Timberwolves’ last 4 road games.
- Nikola Jokic has 11+ assists in each of the Nuggets’ last 4 Western Semifinals games.
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made 3+ three-pointers in 4 of the Nuggets’ last 5 Game 1s.
- Michael Porter Jr. has 8+ rebounds in 5 of the Nuggets’ last 6 playoff games.
- Nikola Jokic has 32+ points in the Nuggets’ last 3 games against the Timberwolves.
PICK – OVER 207.5 TOTAL PTS
