Thanks to the efforts of Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves staved off elimination with a 114-108 victory over the Nuggets in Game 4. Edwards scored 34 points including a game-winning three in overtime.
Nikola Jokić scored a game-high 43 points, but it wasn’t enough for the Nuggets to complete the series sweep. However, with Game 5 taking place back in Denver, this series could soon be coming to an end.
Let’s dive into the odds and best bets for Game 5 between the Nuggets and Timberwolves.
Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 5 Odds
NBA odds used for these best bets are current as of Monday, April 24, at 10 a.m. ET and were found at DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Nuggets (-425) • Timberwolves (+340)
- Spread: Nuggets -9 (-110) • Timberwolves +9 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 222.5 (-110) • Under 222.5 (-110)
Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 5 Prediction
Nuggets 114, Timberwolves 105
The Nuggets will win Game 5 at home and advance to the Western Conference semifinals. They made a comeback at the tail end of Game 4 to force overtime but failed to complete the sweep in Minnesota.
Edwards had a monster game yet again for the Timberwolves, but the young star won’t be able to get the job done by himself in Denver.
Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson also left Game 4 with an eye injury, and if he is unavailable for Game 5, his loss — especially on the defensive end of the floor — will be difficult to overcome.
Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 5 Best Bets
Under 222.5 Points (-110) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Under barely hit in Game 4, even after going into overtime. The Nuggets will look to force someone other than Edwards to beat them in Game 5, so I expect double teams. Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out in Game 4 and will need to step up for the Wolves but will have his hands full defending Jokić.
The Nuggets play at one of the slower paces in the NBA, and I expect them to control this game at home. With that in mind, I recommend taking the Under with my NBA bet of the day.
Nuggets -9 (-110) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Nuggets are a better team when Jokić is a facilitator and not the primary scorer. If the Timberwolves double-team him after his dominant Game 4 performance, then the Nuggets’ shooters will have wide-open looks.
- Wager on more of our top picks in our Nuggets vs Timberwolves Prop Bets.
Denver shot below 35% from beyond the arc in Game 4, and I expect that to improve in Game 5 back home. Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray had down games to their standards and season averages in Game 4. They should both shoot better in Game 5 and lead the Nuggets to a convincing win.
Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 4
- Prediction: Timberwolves 110, Nuggets 108
- Result: Timberwolves 114, Nuggets 108
Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 3
- Prediction: Timberwolves 110, Nuggets 108
- Result: Nuggets 120, Timberwolves 111
Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 2
- Prediction: Nuggets 112, Timberwolves 102
- Result: Nuggets 122, Timberwolves 113
Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 1
- Prediction: Nuggets 112, Timberwolves 105
- Result: Nuggets 109, Timberwolves 80
Nuggets vs Timberwolves Series Preview
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Thunder in the play-in tournament to clinch the eight seed in the Western Conference and now draw a matchup against the Denver Nuggets.
The back-to-back NBA MVP award winner Nikola Jokić has led the Denver Nuggets to the top seed in the West and the second-best home record in the NBA.
Let’s break down this first-round series between the Nuggets and Wolves.
Nuggets vs Timberwolves Series Odds
To Win Series: Nuggets (-500) • Timberwolves (+370)
NBA odds used for these best bets are current as of 4/16/23 at 1:00 p.m. ET and were found at DraftKings Sportsbook.
The Nuggets are heavy favorites to win this series and rightfully so. The Nuggets only lost seven games at home this season and the Wolves will struggle to steal games in Denver. The Timberwolves do have a roster that can make a deep run in the postseason but will need Anthony Edwards to play at an All-Star level.
Nuggets vs Wolves Series Prediction
Nuggets Win 4-2
I do think that the Nuggets will win this series but it won’t be a sweep. The big three of Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Anthony Edwards are tough defensive matchups for any opposing team. They have the size to dominate in the paint and grab offensive rebounds.
Denver will need Michael Porter Jr. to emerge as a consistent scorer in the postseason so Jamal Murray and Jokić don’t shoulder the majority of the offensive responsibilities.
The Nuggets will win this series but it won’t be as easy as Denver fans will want or expect in the first round.
Nuggets vs Wolves Series Best Bets
Series Over 5.5 Games (-115) • DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
I expect the Timberwolves to be competitive in this series and win at least two games at home. This is a tough first-round matchup for the Nuggets who could face defensive struggles in matching up against the Wolves’ size.
Besides Jokić, the Nuggets don’t really have the size to defend both Gobert and Towns so it will be interesting to see how the Nuggets will line up in this series. Their small-ball lineup could prove to be the deciding factor as the Wolves will need to try to match that as well.
This will be a fun first-round series that should go at least six games.
