Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves: Analysis and Prediction – Denver Nuggets will host Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Playoffs.
Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves Odds
Denver Nuggets Team News
The Denver Nuggets didn’t start the Western Conference semifinals as they had hoped. They lost 99:106 to the Minnesota Timberwolves and must find a way to even the series at 1-1 because if they go down 0-2 to Minneapolis, they’ll be on the brink of elimination.
It can’t be said that the Nuggets had a particularly poor shooting night. When you’re playing against the best defense in the NBA, it’s impossible to expect much better looks than they had, but there’s definitely room for improvement. Jamal Murray took only 14 shots in the game, and apart from Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr, no one was particularly impressive. Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had little impact, and head coach Michael Malone must find a way to change that. The Timberwolves will force Jokic to be the one who solves things, even if it means he scores more than 30 points each time, as he did in Game 1. Their focus is to shut down all other players, and the Nuggets must adapt to that opponent’s game plan if they want a chance to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
Having more players in rhythm on offense is a prerequisite for the Denver Nuggets to even the series at 1-1. Jokic knows that without help from his teammates, he can’t eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves alone, but he will also need to read the opponent’s defense flawlessly with his intelligence and create open shots for everyone.
Minnesota Timberwolves Team News
The Minnesota Timberwolves have achieved their first goal in the Western Conference Semifinals. They made a break in the first game and now have a chance to go up 2-0 in Colorado, which would be an advantage that would be very difficult to relinquish given the kind of defense Chris Finch’s team has played this season.
The impression is that the Timberwolves have everything it takes for a team to go all the way and win the title. In addition to their phenomenal defense, there’s Anthony Edwards, who may be the best individual in the entire league in this playoffs. In Game 1 he scored 43 points becoming the second player in NBA history after Kobe Bryant with 40+ points in back-to-back playoff games among players who are 22 years old or younger. Alongside Edwards, Naz Reid played a crucial role in Game 1 with a fantastic fourth quarter, hitting all the crucial shots when the game was on the line, including a banked-in three-pointer. Karl-Anthony Towns spent a lot of time on the bench due to foul trouble, but it turned out to be great for the Timberwolves because otherwise, Reid probably wouldn’t have gotten the minutes in which he made the difference. Rudy Gobert’s defense was also a significant factor in the victory.
The Minnesota Timberwolves likely won’t change anything in their game plan and preparation, and there’s no need to. Edwards will again be the driving force on offense, the defense will again have a clear idea of what it wants to achieve, and much more will depend on the Denver Nuggets’ adjustment this time around.
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Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves H2H
The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets on Saturday by 106:99 and lead 1-0 in this best-of-seven series. The regular season H2H was tied 2-2.
Absences and Injuries
Collin Gillespie and Vlatko Cancar are out for the Denver Nuggets due to injury. Jaylen Clark is sidelined for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction
It’s natural to expect a response from the Denver Nuggets after the loss in Game 1. They’re not the reigning NBA champions by accident, and coach Malone must find a way to involve Caldwell-Pope and Gordon more. Murray and Porter must also take even more shots because the Nuggets have much more success when Jokic manages to get all his teammates going than when he dominates scoring-wise, as was the case on Saturday.
Tip-off Time: Tuesday, 07.05.2024, 04:00 CET
Prediction: Denver Nuggets -4.5
Odds: 1.71
Sportsbook: MyBookie
*Odds are active at the time the article is published
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