MINNESOTA @ DENVER (DEN -5.5, 206)
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TWOLVES VS. NUGGETS 5/6/24
Last year, the Denver Nuggets dominated the playoffs. They never trailed in a series, losing just four games total on the way to winning the NBA championship.
The Minnesota Timberwolves proved that things have changed this season by winning Game 1 in Denver on Saturday night. In the Western Conference semifinals, Minnesota now has home court advantage thanks to its 106-99 victory. In Game 2, which is scheduled for tonight, the TWolves could take a 2-0 lead.
The Timberwolves have won five straight games to start the postseason, all of which were convincing victories. On Saturday night, Minnesota played well in the closing minutes, pressuring the Nuggets into making errors that their opponents usually do.
Denver is not in a panic as they prepare for what might be viewed as a crucial game at home tonight. The Nuggets had to battle their way to victory in the opening round, while the Timberwolves cruised through the postseason. They faced a well-known foe on Saturday, which frustrated Nikola Jokic into an 11-for-25 shooting performance and kept the majority of Denver's lineup in check.
The Nuggets now must monitor Jamal Murray's calf injury and make the necessary adjustments. Murray isn't making excuses for his poor shooting performance in six playoff games. Murray had 17 points in the series opener.
Anthony Edwards is blossoming into a playoff star. In the first half of Game 1, he scored 25 of the Timberwolves' 40 points. He finished with 43 points, and in the last three playoff games, he has scored 119 points. Edwards was able to find open teammates who made baskets when Denver doubled him. Naz Reid had 16 points, 14 of which came in the fourth quarter. He also nailed two huge three-pointers.
In both the beginning and the end of Game 1, Minnesota proved it will be a force to be reckoned with in this series. The Timberwolves jumped out to an 18-4 lead in the first six minutes of play and extended their lead with an 8-0 run in the final minutes of play.
Jokic's talent is respected by the Timberwolves as well, as evidenced by the defensive attention they gave the two-time MVP. The Timberwolves used double teams to contain Jokic when he was in the paint, rotating big men Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Reid on him. Jokic had to work hard to earn his 32 points.
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FREE PICK: KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS OVER 18.5 POINTS
Anthony Edwards scored 43 points in Game 1. He’s averaging 33.4 points a game in the postseason. Denver will have to double him more often. The beneficiary of those double teams is going to be Towns. KAT is averaging 19.4 points per game this postseason and he averaged 21.8 during the regular season. He’s cleared this number in each of his last two games and three of his last five. In 23 career games against the Nuggets, Towns averages 24 points per game.
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