NEWSLETTER
The Minnesota Timberwolves are slight 3.5-point favorites heading into Game 3 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Target Center on Friday, tipping off at 9:30 PM ET on ESPN. The Timberwolves have a 2-0 series lead. The over/under in the matchup is 205.
Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Odds
How to Bet on Timberwolves vs. Nuggets
Game Time and Information
Who Will Win Timberwolves vs. Nuggets?
Timberwolves and Nuggets Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread
The Timberwolves have a 22-25 record against the spread this season when favored by 3.5 points or more.
The Nuggets have a 3-1 record against the spread in games they were an underdog by 3.5 points or more this season.
The Timberwolves and Nuggets average 22.9 more points between them than the total of 205 for this game.
Minnesota and Denver have seen its opponents average a combined 11.1 more points per game than the over/under of 205 set in this game.
The average total in Timberwolves games this season is 14.5 more points than the over/under of 205 in this game.
The average point total for Denver this season is 19.5 points higher than this game’s over/under.
Minnesota’s ATS record is 40-40-2 this season.
The Nuggets’ ATS record is 38-42-2 this year.
Timberwolves Stats & Insights
The Timberwolves are outscoring opponents by 6.5 points per game with a +529 scoring differential overall. They put up 113.0 points per game (18th in the NBA) and allow 106.5 per contest (first in the league).
The Timberwolves pull down 43.6 rebounds per game (15th in the league) while conceding 41.4 per contest to their opponents. They outrebound opponents by 2.2 boards per game.
Minnesota connects on 12.6 three-pointers per game (15th in the league) at a 38.7% rate (third-best in the NBA), compared to the 11.4 per game its opponents make at a 35.4% rate.
The Timberwolves rank 16th in the NBA with 116.5 points scored per 100 possessions, and first in the league defensively with 109.9 points conceded per 100 possessions.
So far in 2023-24, the Timberwolves’ offense has been worse at home, where they average 112.0 points per game, compared to on the road, where they put up 114.0 per game. On defense, they have been much tougher at home, where they give up 103.7 points per game, versus on the road, where they let their opponents to score 109.3 per game.
Nuggets Stats & Insights
The Nuggets’ +431 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 5.3 points per game) is a result of putting up 114.9 points per game (14th in NBA) while giving up 109.6 per contest (sixth in league).
The 44.4 rebounds per game Denver accumulates rank seventh in the league, 2.1 more than the 42.3 its opponents record.
The Nuggets hit 11.7 three-pointers per game (25th in the league) at a 37.4% rate (ninth-best in NBA), compared to the 11.2 their opponents make, shooting 35.5% from deep.
The Nuggets rank fifth in the league averaging 119.4 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively are eighth, allowing 113.9 points per 100 possessions.
At home Denver is putting up 118.5 points per game, 7.3 more than it is averaging away (111.2).
Timberwolves Key Players to Watch
Anthony Edwards is a key contributor on the scoresheet for the Timberwolves, tallying 25.9 points per game to go with 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists.
Mike Conley contributes with 11.4 points, 5.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds a game, and Rudy Gobert adds 14.0 points, 1.3 assists and 12.9 rebounds per outing.
Edwards leads active Timberwolves in three-point shooting, making an average of 2.4 shots per game from beyond the arc.
Edwards picks pockets to the tune of 1.3 takeaways per game, while Gobert records 2.1 rejections per contest.
Nuggets Key Players to Watch
Nikola Jokic has averaged 26.4 points, grabbed 12.4 rebounds and served up 9.0 assists per game so far in 2023-24.
Michael Porter Jr. averages 2.7 made threes per game.
The Nuggets’ defensive efforts get a lift from Jokic (1.4 steals per game) and Peyton Watson (1.1 blocks per game).
Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Prediction
Over (205)
Timberwolves 114 – Nuggets 108
