Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Prediction 5-10-24 Picks

The Denver Nuggets an the Minnesota Timberwolves duke it out in a crucial NBA Game 3 at the Target Center on Friday night. Here’s a Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Prediction.

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are starting to get desperate now as they need to mark their mark on this series after falling behind by 2-0 after getting smashed by 106-80 in Game 2 on Monday. Aaron Gordon led the team in scoring with 20 points, Nikola Jokic added 16 points with 16 rebounds and eight assists while Justin Holiday chipped in with 13 points off the bench, but no other player finished in double figures in scoring. As a team, the Nuggets shot a miserly 34 percent from the field and nine of 30 from the 3-point line as they started cold and never looked threatening after scoring just 35 points in a nightmare of a first half. The Nuggets struggled against the defense of the Timberwolves, but no one struggled more than Jamal Murray who shot just three of 18 for his eight points.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves must be feeling pretty good about themselves after blowing past the Nuggets with ease in a dominant win in Game 2. Anthony Edwards led the team with 27 points and seven assists, Karl-Anthony Towns added 27 points with 12 rebounds and two blocks while Naz Reid chipped in with 14 points, five rebounds and four blocks off the bench. As a team, the Timberwolves shot 50 percent from the field and 13 of 33 from the 3-point line, but where they really controlled the game was on the defensive end as they were always in control after holding the Nuggets to just 15 points in the second quarter. Jaden McDaniels finished the game with just five points on two of seven shooting while Mike Conley scored just four points.

Why the Minnesota Timberwolves will win

• The Timberwolves have won each of their last six games.
• The Nuggets have lost each of their last four Game 3s of a Western Conference Semifinals series.
• The Timberwolves have covered the spread in each of their last eight playoff games.
• The Nuggets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games against Northwest Division opponents following a loss.

Why the Denver Nuggets will win

• The Nuggets have won each of their last four playoff games as road underdogs.
• The Timberwolves have lost four of their last seven games as home favorites against Northwest Division opponents following a win.
• The underdogs have covered the spread in each of the Nuggets’ last six games.
• The Timberwolves have failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven games as home favorites against Northwest Division opponents following a win.

Total Points Facts

• Nine of the Nuggets’ last 10 playoff games have gone UNDER the total points line.
• Six of the Timberwolves’ last seven home games against Western Conference opponents have gone OVER the total points line.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Prediction

The Nuggets have a major injury cloud hanging over them with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Reggie Jackson and Jamal Murray all listed as questionable, while the Timberwolves are coming into this one with a full squad once again. The Nuggets weren’t able to get anything going in the first two games of the series and now face what is almost a must-win game against a red-hot Timberwolves team, who made it look easy on Monday. Surely, with what is at stake, we’re going to see the Nuggets coming out swinging in this one after getting embarrassed in the last meeting. The Timberwolves have proven to be a real dark horse in these playoffs, and I think they keep it going with a win and cover in front of a packed home crowd.