Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets 4/19/2023 Expert Picks, Previews and Analysis
West 1st Round – Game 2, DEN leads series 1-0
In the upcoming Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals best-of-seven series, the Minnesota Timberwolves are gearing up to face off against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. Currently trailing 0-1 in the series after a disappointing 109-80 loss in Game 1 on Sunday, the Timberwolves are looking to bounce back and even the score. Despite Anthony Edwards’ efforts as the leading scorer for Minnesota with 18 points, the team struggled with their shooting, managing only 37.0% from the field. Karl-Anthony Towns, who is typically a key contributor for the Timberwolves, had a challenging game in Game 1, missing 10 of his first 12 field goal attempts and finishing with just 11 points.
Throughout the regular season, Edwards emerged as Minnesota’s top scorer, averaging an impressive 24.6 points per game, closely followed by Towns with an average of 20.8 points per game. Mike Conley led the team in assists, averaging 5.0 assists per game, while Rudy Gobert was the leading rebounder with an average of 11.6 rebounds per game. However, in Game 1 against the Nuggets, the Timberwolves struggled with their shooting, hitting only 37 percent from the field and 11 of 36 from beyond the arc. They got off to a slow start, scoring just 21 points in the second quarter and falling behind by 11 points going into halftime.
- The total remained UNDER in 4 of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ last 5 games on the road.
- The T-Wolves are 2-9 SU in their last 11 games on the road against Denver.
- The total stayed UNDER in 5 of Minnesota’s last 6 games with a team in the Western Conference.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets 4/19/2023 Expert Picks, Previews and Analysis
In the opening game of the series, the Denver Nuggets got off to a strong start, taking an early 8-0 lead within the first few minutes and further extending their advantage by scoring the first nine points of the second half. The Nuggets displayed physical play and controlled the boards on both ends of the court, outrebounding the Minnesota Timberwolves 54-38, while also taking care of the ball with just 11 turnovers and forcing 12 turnovers from the Timberwolves.
During the regular season, Nikola Jokic, who is known for his all-around skills, led the Nuggets in scoring, rebounding, and assists, averaging impressive numbers of 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game. Jamal Murray followed closely as the second leading scorer with an average of 20.0 points per game, while Michael Porter ranked third with an average of 17.4 points per game. In Game 1, the trio of Jokic, Murray, and Porter combined for 55 points, 33 rebounds, and 16 assists, showcasing their impact on the game and their ability to contribute in multiple areas of the game.
- The total stayed UNDER in 6 of Denver’s last 8 games with a team in the Western Conference.
- The Nuggets are 10-4 SU in their last 14 games against an opponent in the Northwest Division.
- The Denver Nuggets are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games played in April.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets. The NBA pick for this game is the Denver Nuggets. Denver will take a 2-0 series lead with another victory on Wednesday at the Mile-High City but the play here is UNDER. Denver limited the T-Wolves to just 80 points in Game 1 using a strong defense and clearing the glass well, holding Minnesota to only five offensive rebounds. Denver held Minnesota to 37% shooting and combined with the lack of offensive rebounding by the Timberwolves, the results in Game 1 easily cashed UNDER. The UNDER cashed in six of Minnesota’s last seven and in 12 of Denver’s last 14. Prediction: Denver Nuggets win but our best play is UNDER 114-104.
NBA Starting Time: 10:30 PM ET
Location: Ball Arena in Denver, CO
Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2023
TV: TNT
NBA Odds: Denver Nuggets -8
NBA Totals: 223.5
