The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets get their Western Conference semifinal series underway in the 2024 NBA playoffs on Saturday when they meet in Game 1 at Ball Arena in Denver. The teams were 2-2 against each other during the regular season. The Timberwolves (56-26), who swept the Phoenix Suns in four games, advanced past the first round for the first time since the 2003-2004 season, when they lost in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals. The Nuggets (57-25), who ousted the Lakers in a five-game series, won the NBA title in 2022-2023. Jamal Murray (calf) is listed as questionable for Denver.
The game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET. Minnesota is averaging a league-best 118.3 points per game this postseason, while Denver averages 108.6, fourth-best. Denver is a 4.5-point favorite in the latest Timberwolves vs. Nuggets odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 209.5. Before making any Nuggets vs. Timberwolves picks, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters the third week of the 2024 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 92-61 roll on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $2,600. Anyone following the model has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Timberwolves vs. Nuggets and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the NBA betting lines and trends for Nuggets vs. Timberwolves:
- Timberwolves vs. Nuggets spread: Denver -4.5
- Timberwolves vs. Nuggets over/under: 209.5 points
- Timberwolves vs. Nuggets money line: Denver -194, Minnesota +158
- MIN: The Timberwolves have covered the third-quarter spread in 47 of their last 74 games (+17.10 units)
- DEN: The Nuggets have won 71 of their last 98 games (+22.25 units on ML)
- Timberwolves vs. Nuggets picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Nuggets can cover
Center Nikola Jokic has been red hot this postseason. In five games, he is averaging 28.2 points, 16.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 40.5 minutes of action. He is connecting on 59.1% of his field goals and 92.6% of his free throws. He is coming off a 25-point, 20-rebound and nine-assist effort in the close-out win over the Lakers on Monday. In Game 4, he poured in 33 points, while adding 14 assists and 14 rebounds in a 119-108 loss at Los Angeles.
Another weapon for the Nuggets is small forward Michael Porter Jr. He registered a pair of double-doubles in the first round series win over the Lakers, and scored 19 or more points in each game. In the Game 4 loss, Porter scored 27 points, while grabbing 11 rebounds and adding three assists. In four regular-season games against the Timberwolves, Porter averaged 15.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and two assists in 32.5 minutes. See which team to pick here.
Why the Timberwolves can cover
Shooting guard Anthony Edwards has been lights out this postseason. In four games, he is averaging 31 points, eight rebounds, 6.3 assists and two steals in 39.5 minutes. He is connecting on 51.2% of his field goals, including a blistering 43.8% from 3-point range, and 83.9% of his free throws. In Game 4 to close out the Suns, he poured in 40 points, while adding nine rebounds, six assists and two blocks.
Center Karl-Anthony Towns has posted back-to-back double-doubles. In Game 3 at Phoenix, he scored 18 points, while grabbing 13 rebounds and dishing out two assists in a 126-109 win. In the 122-116 win in Game 4, he scored 28 points, while adding 10 rebounds and three assists in 39 minutes. In four postseason games, Towns is averaging 19.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 28.3 minutes. See which team to pick here.
How to make Timberwolves vs. Nuggets picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 216 combined points. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in well over 50% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, and which side of the spread cashes in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Timberwolves vs. Nuggets spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned more than $2,600 on its NBA picks this season, and find out.
