Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA
Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves Game 3: Western Conference Playoffs – Second round
The Denver Nuggets will try to stay alive in the series tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.
Can the Nuggets stay alive in the series?
The Denver Nuggets are still the defending champions, but being down 2-0 after the first two home games of the series does not look like a promising scenario. They were held to only 34.9% shooting from the field and had 16 turnovers. Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets in scoring with 20 points, while Nikola Jokic added 16 points, 16 rebounds, and 8 assists.
How good the Wolves really are?
The Minnesota Timberwolves swept the Phoenix Suns in the opening playoff round, and now they are up 2-0 against the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets. They were up by 26 in Game 2 and closed things out for a final 106-80 win. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 27 points each, and Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 14 points from the bench.
Betting Trends
The Timberwolves have won 4 of the last 6 games against the Nuggets. They have won the last 6 games overall, 6 of the last 7 at home and 9 of the last 11 games against teams from the Northwest Division. Minnesota has covered the spread in the last five games against teams from the Western Conference and in 6 of the last 7 home games against Denver. The Nuggets have won 10 of the last 15 games overall and 10 of the last 14 games on the road. They have covered the spread only once in the last six games overall.
Prediction and Conclusion
The Denver Nuggets are still the defending champions, but they have looked nothing like that in the series against Minnesota. The Timberwolves played an amazing defense in the previous two games, which, combined with Anthony Edwards’ scoring spree, put them two games up in the series. The Nuggets were not even close to winning any of the first two games at home, and it is hard to imagine what they can do to change the scenario tonight. Nikola Jokic won his third MVP award, and there is no doubt he will go all-in tonight, but that will not be enough as the Timberwolves will win their seventh straight game in the playoffs.
