In one of the more highly-anticipated matchups in recent memory, the reigning champion Denver Nuggets will take on Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs.
The Nuggets eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers in five games to reach this point, while Minnesota cruised past the Phoenix Suns in a clean four-game sweep in the opening round.
Here's a look at everything you need to know for this best-of-seven series, from the recent history between the two teams to all key betting odds.
2024 NBA Playoff Previews: Second Round
(Related Link) 2024 NBA Playoff Series Prices
Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Hub
Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Series Schedule
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Arena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Saturday, May 4, 2024 | 7 p.m. | Ball Arena |
| Game 2 | Monday, May 6, 2024 | 10 p.m. | Ball Arena |
| Game 3 | Friday, May 10, 2024 | 9:30 p.m. | Target Center |
| Game 4 | Sunday, May 12, 2024 | 8 p.m. | Target Center |
| Game 5 (If Necessary) | Tuesday, May 14, 2024 | TBD | Ball Arena |
| Game 6 (If Necessary) | Thursday, May 16, 2024 | 8:30 p.m. | Target Center |
| Game 7 (If Necessary) | Sunday, May 19, 2024 | TBD | Ball Arena |
Denver Nuggets Vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Series Winner Odds
| Team | Moneyline |
|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | -205 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +164 |
Odds as of May 1
The Timberwolves are once again underdogs for a second series in a row, having served so against the Suns despite being the higher seed.
Denver Nuggets Vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Total Games Odds
| Total Games | Odds |
|---|---|
| 6 Games | +200 |
| 5 Games | +220 |
| 7 Games | +230 |
| 4 Games | +480 |
Odds as of May 1
Denver bounced Minnesota in the opening round of last year's postseason in five games en route to the franchise's first-ever championship. Including this year's elimination of the Lakers, the Nuggets have gone to exactly five games in five of the 13 rounds they've competed in since 2019.
Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Series Prediction Odds
| Series Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets 4-0 | +700 |
| Denver Nuggets 4-1 | +320 |
| Denver Nuggets 4-2 | +500 |
| Denver Nuggets 4-3 | +350 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves 4-0 | +1800 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 | +1200 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 | +550 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves 4-3 | +900 |
Odds as of May 1
Oddsmakers like the chances of this series going the distance, with the second-strongest odds coming in the form of the Nuggets taking Game 7 at Ball Arena. The best odds have Denver winning in five games, which would be a repeat of last year's success.
Denver Nuggets Vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 2023-24 Season Series (2-2)
| Date | Result | Leading Scorer |
|---|---|---|
| April 10, 2024 | 116-107 Nuggets | Nikola Jokic, Nuggets (41 Points) |
| March 29, 2024 | 111-98 Timberwolves | Nikola Jokic, Nuggets (32 Points) |
| March 19, 2024 | 115-112 Nuggets | Nikola Jokic, Nuggets (35 Points) |
| Nov. 1, 2023 | 110-89 Timberwolves | Nikola Jokic, Nuggets (25 Points) |
Neither side has won consecutive games over the other across each of the last two seasons. Minnesota tallied off four-straight wins against Denver from Dec. 15, 2021 through Jan. 2, 2023 before that trend got underway.
Denver Nuggets Vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 2023-24 Spread History
| Date | Spread (Nuggets) | Spread (Timberwolves) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 10, 2024 | -7.5 | +7.5 | Nuggets Cover (Favorites) |
| March 29, 2024 | -3 | +3 | Timberwolves Cover (Underdogs) |
| March 19, 2024 | -7.5 | +7.5 | Timberwolves Cover (Underdogs) |
| Nov. 1, 2023 | -2 | +2 | Timberwolves Cover (Underdogs) |
The Timberwolves were 11-9 ATS during the regular season when entering a game as an underdog, with three of those wins against the spread coming against Denver.
Denver Nuggets Vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 2023-24 OVER/UNDER History
| Date | Score | O/U Total | Final Total | O/U Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 10, 2024 | 116-107 | 214.5 | 223 | OVER |
| March 29, 2024 | 111-98 | 210.5 | 209 | UNDER |
| March 19, 2024 | 115-112 | 216 | 227 | OVER |
| Nov. 1, 2023 | 110-89 | 220 | 199 | UNDER |
For further context, last year's five-game series between the teams reached the OVER on three occasions, which falls in line with how the 2023-24 season unfolded going an even 2-2 in this department.
Denver Nuggets Vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Top Scorer Odds
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | +155 |
| Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | +165 |
| Jamal Murray | Denver Nuggets | +300 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | +1600 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | Denver Nuggets | +5500 |
| Mike Conley | Minnesota Timberwolves | +10000 |
| Aaron Gordon | Denver Nuggets | +10000 |
| Rudy Gobert | Minnesota Timberwolves | +12000 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Denver Nuggets | +20000 |
| Jaden McDaniels | Minnesota Timberwolves | +20000 |
Odds as of May 1
Nikola Jokic leads the odds here after having scored the most points in every single Nuggets-Timberwolves game during the regular season. He finished with 133 total points over all four games, which was a full 29 points more than Edwards.
Denver Nuggets Player To Watch: Nikola Jokic
| Games (vs. Timberwolves) | PTS | FG% | 3P% | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 33.3 | 58.4 | 40.0 | 11.8 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 |
As potent defensively as Minnesota is, like all 28 other teams across the Association, the solution of how to contain Jokic from putting up monster numbers has yet to be determined. The 33.3 points he averaged against the Timberwolves were the second-most he mustered up against any one team, right behind the 33.5 points against the San Antonio Spurs.
Minnesota Timberwolves Player To Watch: Mike Conley
| Games (vs. Nuggets) | PTS | FG% | 3P% | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 18.0 | 62.5 | 60.9 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 0.8 | 0 |
Mike Conley must have circled Nuggets games on the schedule, because the 36-year-old veteran point guard consistently stepped up to the plate for this particular matchup. He averaged no more than 15 points against any other team, but managed to shoot the lights out against Denver to the tune of 18 points per game, including a 23-point outburst on March 29 which was his second-most points in a game all season.
Denver Nuggets Vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Odds To Win Western Conference
| Team | Odds To Win West |
|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | +100 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +370 |
Odds as of May 1
Denver has possessed the greatest odds to escape the Western Conference for the better part of the season. The only team with stronger odds than Minnesota is the Oklahoma City Thunder at +350.
Denver Nuggets Vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Odds To Win NBA Championship
| Team | Odds To Win NBA Finals |
|---|---|
| Denver Nuggets | +130 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +850 |
Odds as of May 1
As the team with the best overall record SU, the Boston Celtics lead all teams in the pecking order here, but the Nuggets aren't too far behind. The Timberwolves opened at +6500 to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy, so this is a vast improvement.
Expert Prediction: Denver Nuggets (-205), Denver Nuggets Win Series 4-3
It's taking a great deal of restraint to not take the Timberwolves here, especially after witnessing them shred the Kevin Durant-Devin Booker-Bradley Beal threesome to tiny bits in a series that was never really close.
Is it a stretch to think the winner of this series will ultimately win it all? Both rosters are well-equipped to do so, and on paper, each side has the weapons to make life miserable for the other. Minnesota's size in the middle with Defensive Player of the Year favorite Rudy Gobert to go along with Karl-Anthony Towns and then Naz Reid off the bench is as formidable a three-man unit as it gets to impede Jokic's progress, yet the Joker has abused this matchup time and time again.
Can Jamal Murray's calf hold up? He was listed as questionable for Game 5 against the Lakers, and ended up nailing the game-winning jumper to finish with 32 points, so it's safe to assume he'll be okay moving forward, but it's still something to monitor.
Having home-court advantage is huge for Denver, because if this series does in fact reach a Game 7, winning in the Mile High City with the altitude paired with a roaring pro-Nuggets crowd is easier said than done. That should be the difference, as Denver will get pushed harder here than it ever did during last year's run to the title.
