*These NBA Playoff picks are done the morning of game day, adjust picks should spreads and lineups change.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER for the best NBA Playoff picks and extra betting trends.
MINNESOTA @ DENVER
WESTERN CONFERENCE 2ND ROUND – GAME 1
Over/Under Prediction: Under 207.5 Total Points
Both Denver and Minnesota have leaned toward lower-scoring games, with the Nuggets hitting the game total under in 58 of their last 98 games and the Timberwolves hitting the 2Q game total under in 38 of their last 60 games.
Seven of the Nuggets’ last eight playoff games went unders, a strong trend toward lower-scoring matchups in postseason play. These factors, along with the historical trend of lower-scoring games between these two teams, the under 207.5 total points seems like a reasonable prediction for this matchup.
ATS Prediction: Minnesota Timberwolves +4.5
Minnesota covered the spread in their last six playoff games. The Nuggets have lost the first quarter in 6 of their last 7 playoff games, suggesting potential slow starts that could make it difficult to cover a spread of -4.5 points.
The Timberwolves have covered the 3Q spread in 47 of their last 74 games, showcasing their ability to perform well in the second half of games. These factors, along with the Timberwolves’ recent playoff success against the spread, selecting the Minnesota Timberwolves +4.5 appears to be a favorable pick.
