Timberwolves vs Nuggets Prediction NBA Playoffs Game 3 4/21

© Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Game Preview: Nuggets vs Timberwolves (Apr 21, 2023) Pregame - Jokic and the Nuggets Visit Minnesota with 2-0 Series Lead

The Denver Nuggets will face off the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference first round with a 2-0 lead in the series. The last matchup between these two teams ended in a 122-113 victory for the Nuggets led by Jamal Murray's 40 points. Anthony Edwards scored 41 points for the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves are 8-8 against division opponents and rank eighth in the NBA with 54.2 points in the paint, led by Edwards averaging 10.3. The Nuggets have gone 34-18 against Western Conference opponents and rank third in the Western Conference with 16.2 fast break points per game led by Michael Porter Jr. averaging 3.4. According to expert predictions, the Timberwolves are favored to win by 2 points and the over/under is 223. However, NBA picks experts and computers favor the Nuggets to win. NBA picks and parlay suggest that the best NBA bet for today is to pick the Nuggets with the spread. NBA picks for today also indicate that the Nuggets are the top performers with Porter averaging 9.0 points per game and Murray averaging 15.2 points and 2.7 rebounds over the last 10 games. The Timberwolves' Edwards is averaging 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals. In terms of injuries, Naz Reid is out for the Timberwolves due to his wrist while Jaden McDaniels is out due to his hand. The Nuggets do not have any listed injuries. As per the stats, the Denver Nuggets have a better offense and defense compared to the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, the Timberwolves have a better shooting efficiency and are leading in several other categories, including personal fouls per game and three-point percentage. The Denver Nuggets' current roster includes several key players like Christian Braun, Bruce Brown, Nikola Jokic, and Michael Porter Jr. On the other hand, the Minnesota Timberwolves have players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and Thomas Bryant. All in all, this matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves promises to be an exciting one. With the Nuggets leading the series 2-0, the Timberwolves will look to come back strong and level the playing field.

Nuggets: Offensive Analysis

The Denver Nuggets head into their third game against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 2-0 series lead. The team's offensive firepower has been a key factor in their success thus far, as they've managed to score over 100 points in both games. Let's take a closer look at their offensive stats and see how they match up against the Timberwolves. According to data from Sportradar, the Nuggets rank 11th in the league in points per game, averaging 115.8 points. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves rank 8th in the league with 112.1 points per game allowed. This gives the Nuggets an edge in terms of offensive output. Denver is also a strong team in terms of fast break points, averaging 16.2 per game, which is third in the Western Conference. Michael Porter Jr. leads the team in this category with an average of 3.4 fast break points per game. The Nuggets are also a solid team in terms of shooting efficiency, ranking third in both field goal percentage and shooting efficiency. This is thanks in large part to Nikola Jokic, who is averaging 26.4 points per game while shooting 56.3% from the field and 41.4% from three-point range. Jamal Murray has also been a key contributor on offense for the Nuggets, averaging 15.2 points per game over his last 10 games. Overall, the Nuggets' offensive stats put them in a good position to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series against the Timberwolves. The team's ability to score quickly and efficiently will be critical, as they look to close out the series in the next few games. When it comes to NBA picks, experts and computer predictions are likely to favor the Nuggets based on their strong offensive performance thus far. NBA picks and parlays may also point towards the Nuggets as the clear favorites in this matchup. As always, it's important to remember that anything can happen on game day, and the Timberwolves are a talented team that should not be underestimated.

Nuggets: Defensive Analysis

The Denver Nuggets enter their Western Conference first-round matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 2-0 lead in the series, thanks in large part to their strong defense. In the last matchup between the two teams, the Nuggets held the Timberwolves to just 113 points, well below their season average of 117.8 points per game. The Nuggets have been one of the best defensive teams in the league this season, ranking eighth in the NBA in opponent points per game at 112.1. They've also been strong in limiting their opponents' three-point shooting, allowing just 34.5% from beyond the arc, good for fourth-best in the league. Leading the Nuggets' defensive efforts is their star center, Nikola Jokic. Jokic is a force in the paint, averaging 1.3 blocks per game and anchoring the team's defensive rebounding efforts with 10.8 rebounds per game. In addition, Jokic is also one of the best defenders in the league in terms of steals, averaging 1.3 per game. Another key contributor to the Nuggets' defense is guard Jamal Murray. Murray is an excellent on-ball defender, averaging 1.3 steals per game this season. He's also worked hard to improve his off-ball defense, making him a strong contributor to the Nuggets' team defense. The Nuggets will need to continue their defensive efforts if they hope to close out this series against the Timberwolves. While the Nuggets are the higher-seeded team and have looked strong in the first two games, the Timberwolves have enough firepower to make a comeback if the Nuggets let up on the defensive end. Look for Jokic, Murray, and the rest of the Nuggets to keep up their defensive intensity and secure a win in Minnesota. 

Timberwolves: Offense Analysis

The Minnesota Timberwolves are facing a tough challenge as they sit 2-0 down in their Western Conference first-round matchup against the Denver Nuggets. One major issue for the Timberwolves has been their offense, which has failed to keep up with the high-scoring Nuggets. Let's take a closer look at their offensive performance and what needs to improve. The Timberwolves have been averaging only 109.8 points per game over their last 10 games, a figure which is way below the league average. They've been shooting at a decent 47.0% from the field, but their opponents have been scoring an average of 112.0 points per game, highlighting their poor defense, which we discussed in a previous section. The Timberwolves rank eighth in the league in points in the paint with 54.2, led by Edwards' average of 10.3. However, they've been struggling from beyond the arc, shooting only 34.5% from three-point range, which is below average. In addition, the team has been averaging only 26.6 assists per game, which is 14th in the league. The team's top performer, Edwards, has been averaging 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. However, he'll need more support from his teammates in order to compete with the high-scoring Nuggets. Towns has been averaging 16.5 points and 8.2 rebounds over the last 10 games, but the team needs more production from him if they're going to turn the series around. In contrast, the Nuggets have been on a hot streak, averaging 108.1 points per game over their last 10 games, with an effective field goal percentage of 57.3%, which is the best in the league. They've been averaging 16.2 fast break points per game, which is third in the Western Conference, led by Michael Porter Jr. averaging 3.4. The Timberwolves defense will need to step up to contain the hot-shooting Nuggets offense, and they'll need to find ways to score more points to stay competitive in the series. As for the betting aspect, NBA experts and computers predict that the Timberwolves will not be able to cover the -2 spread, making the Nuggets the clear favorites for this game. 

Timberwolves: Defensive Analysis

The Minnesota Timberwolves will be looking to avoid getting swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference first round, as they head into Friday's game with a 2-0 deficit in the series. The Nuggets have been dominant on both ends of the court, averaging 115.8 points per game while allowing only 112.1 points per game. One of the biggest challenges for the Timberwolves will be containing the explosive duo of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Murray has been averaging 15.2 points and 2.7 rebounds over the last 10 games for Denver, while Porter Jr. is scoring 9.0 points per game and pulling down 5.5 rebounds. The Timberwolves will need to tighten up their defense to slow down these two key players. Another area where the Timberwolves will need to improve is their perimeter defense. The Nuggets have been shooting the ball well from beyond the arc, with a three-point percentage of 38.0% that ranks fourth in the NBA. In addition to Murray and Porter Jr., the Nuggets have several other players who can knock down the long ball, including Aaron Gordon and Jeff Green. The Timberwolves will also need to do a better job on the glass, as they have been outrebounded by the Nuggets in the first two games of the series. Denver ranks first in the Western Conference in total rebounds per game, while the Timberwolves rank 20th. Despite these challenges, the Timberwolves have some strong defensive players in their roster. Karl-Anthony Towns has been a force on the defensive end, averaging 1.3 blocks per game over the last 10 games. Anthony Edwards has also shown flashes of brilliance, with an average of 1.6 steals per game over the season. In conclusion, the Timberwolves will need to step up their defensive game if they hope to avoid a sweep by the Nuggets. They will need to tighten up their perimeter defense, improve their rebounding, and contain key players like Murray and Porter Jr. If they can do these things, they may have a chance at coming away with a win in this crucial game.

Injury Report

Heading into the third game of the Western Conference first-round series, both the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves have relatively healthy rosters. The Timberwolves will be without Naz Reid (wrist) and Jaden McDaniels (hand), but their absence is not expected to have a significant impact on Minnesota's performance. The Nuggets do not have any players listed on their injury report, giving them a full roster to work with for the crucial third game of the series. Injuries can often play a significant role in the outcome of a game or series, but both teams appear to be in good health at the moment. This means that the focus will be entirely on the players on the court and their ability to execute their game plans. As the series progresses, both teams will need to remain vigilant in managing any injuries that may arise to ensure that they are not hampered in their quest for victory.

Betting Trends

When it comes to NBA picks and predictions, the Denver Nuggets have been a popular choice among experts and computers alike. Their performance throughout the regular season has earned them the top spot in the Western Conference, and they currently hold a 2-0 series lead against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Nuggets have been exceptional against Western Conference opponents, boasting a 34-18 record in such matchups. Additionally, they rank third in the conference with 16.2 fastbreak points per game led by Michael Porter Jr's average of 3.4. These trends suggest that the Nuggets are a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have an 8-8 record against division opponents and have struggled to keep up with the Nuggets in the series. However, they do have their own standout player in Anthony Edwards, who is averaging 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. His presence on the court could potentially have an impact on the outcome of the game. As for the odds, the Timberwolves are favored by 2 points with an over/under of 223. This suggests that oddsmakers believe the game will be relatively high-scoring and competitive, despite the Nuggets holding a 2-0 series lead. Overall, the betting trends suggest that the Nuggets are the stronger team and are likely to come out on top in this matchup. However, the Timberwolves cannot be counted out entirely, especially with the talents of players like Anthony Edwards on their side. NBA picks and parlays experts may be hesitant to bet against the Nuggets, but anything can happen in the playoffs.

Prediction