Kyrie Irving vs. Timberwolves

NBA Playoffs 2024: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks Western Conference Finals Preview, Betting Odds

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks will soon square off in the 2024 NBA Western Conference finals to determine who will challenge for the Larry O'Brien trophy next month, and we've got all of the betting odds you require for this best-of-seven series featuring two of the brightest young superstars in the Association. 

Here's a look at everything you need to know for this matchup, from the recent history between the two teams to all key betting odds.

2024 NBA Playoff Previews: Conference Finals

(Related Link) 2024 NBA Playoff Series Prices

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks Hub

Minnesota Timberwolves Vs. Dallas Mavericks Series Schedule

GameDateTime (ET)Arena
Game 1Tuesday, May 21, 20248 p.m. TD Garden
Game 2Thursday, May 23, 20248 p.m. TD Garden
Game 3Saturday, May 25, 20248:30 p.m. Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Game 4Monday, May 27, 20248 p.m.Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Game 5Wednesday, May 29, 20248 p.m.TD Garden
Game 6Friday, May 31, 20248 p.m.Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Game 7Sunday, June 2, 20248 p.m.TD Garden

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks Series Winner Odds

TeamMoneyline
Minnesota Timberwolves-180
Dallas Mavericks+146

Odds as of May 20

Minnesota enters a series for the first time this postseason as a betting favorite after prevailing as an underdog against both the Phoenix Suns and reigning champion Denver Nuggets. Dallas was favored against the Los Angeles Clippers in the opening round, but was the narrow underdog against the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks Total Games Odds

Total GamesOdds
6+200
5+220
7+220
4+500

Odds as of May 20

The Mavericks went exactly six games versus both Los Angeles and Oklahoma City in the first two rounds, while the Timberwolves swept the Suns but needed to go the distance against Denver. 

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks Series Prediction Odds

Series OutcomeOdds
Minnesota Timberwolves 4-0+850
Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1+350
Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2+500
Minnesota Timberwolves 4-3+400
Dallas Mavericks 4-0+1600
Dallas Mavericks 4-1+900
Dallas Mavericks 4-2+470
Dallas Mavericks 4-3+800

Odds as of May 20

Oddsmakers are leaning towards the Timberwolves eliminating the Mavericks in five games as being the most plausible outcome, while discounting either side sweeping the other in four games. Dallas' best opportunity to win, according to these opening odds, is doing so in six games. 

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks 2023-24 Season Series (3-1 Timberwolves)

DateLocationResultLeading Scorer
Jan. 31, 2024Target Center121-87 TimberwolvesKarl-Anthony Towns, 29 Points
Jan. 7, 2024American Airlines Center115-108 MavericksAnthony Edwards, 36 Points
Dec. 28, 2023Target Center118-110 TimberwolvesAnthony Edwards, 44 Points
Dec. 14, 2023American Airlines Center119-101 TimberwolvesLuka Doncic, 39 Points

The Timberwolves haven't outright lost a season series to Dallas since the 2020-21 campaign. For added context, Luka Doncic did miss two of these games.

Minnesota Timberwolves Vs. Dallas Mavericks 2023-24 Spread History

DateSpread (Timberwolves)Spread (Mavericks)Result
Jan. 31, 2024-13+13Timberwolves Cover (Favorites)
Jan. 7, 2024-2+2Mavericks Cover (Underdogs)
Dec. 28, 2023-12+12Mavericks Cover (Underdogs)
Dec. 14, 2023-2+2Timberwolves Cover (Favorites)

The Mavericks entered each game this season versus Minnesota as an underdog, covering on two occasions. The 13-point spread on Jan. 31 was the largest for Dallas outside of the season finale of 19.5 when it sat a majority of its key players against the Thunder. 

Minnesota Timberwolves Vs. Dallas Mavericks 2023-24 OVER/UNDER History

DateScoreO/U TotalFinal TotalO/U Result
Jan. 31, 2024121-87221208UNDER
Jan. 7, 2024115-108234.5223UNDER
Dec. 28, 2023118-110228228PUSH
Dec. 14, 2023119-101231220UNDER

All but the matchup on Dec. 28 reached the UNDER in the total points market, which falls in line with Dallas' record during the regular season connecting on the UNDER 55.6 percent of the time. 

Minnesota Timberwolves Player To Watch: Anthony Edwards

Games (2024 Playoffs)PTSFG%3P%REBASTSTLBLK
1128.950.439.86.25.91.70.6

Minnesota didn't need Anthony Edwards to take the bull by the horns in Game 7 against the Nuggets to prevail, leaning more so on its defense to get the job done in the Mile High City. Edwards only had 16 points on 6-of-24 shooting, which was actually his second-lowest scoring performance of the postseason thus far. The 22-year-old wing has accumulated three games of 40 points or more, but four games of 19 or less, although the Timberwolves are 2-2 SU when Edwards doesn't reach the 20-point mark. 

Dallas Mavericks Player To Watch: Kyrie Irving

Games (2024 Playoffs)PTSFG%3P%REBASTSTLBLK
1221.148.2444.05.41.40.5

Kyrie Irving's numbers took a noticeable hit in the series versus Oklahoma City, with the eight-time All-Star only averaging 15.7 points on 44 percent shooting as the likes of Lu Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander kept him in check defensively. The matchup won't get any easier versus the Timberwolves with their No. 1-ranked defense and both Edwards and Jaden McDaniels swarming the perimeter. Irving can still take over games at a moment's notice, and it's not as though the Mavericks couldn't get past Oklahoma City with Irving's production not living up to the high standard he's set for himself.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks Odds to win Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player

PlayerTeamOdds
Anthony EdwardsMinnesota Timberwolves-150
Luka DoncicDallas Mavericks+165
Karl-Anthony TownsMinnesota Timberwolves+1400
Kyrie IrvingDallas Mavericks+1600
Rudy GobertMinnesota Timberwolves+5000
PJ WashingtonDallas Mavericks+12000
Jaden McDanielsMinnesota Timberwolves+15000
Naz ReidMinnesota Timberwolves+15000

Odds as of May 20

This is the third year in which the Earvin "Magic" Johnson trophy will be awarded to the Most Valuable Player of the Western Conference finals, with Stephen Curry (2022) and Nikola Jokic (2023) being the past two recipients. 

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks Odds To Win NBA Finals

TeamOdds To Win NBA Finals
Minnesota Timberwolves+280
Dallas Mavericks+500

Odds as of May 20

Both Minnesota and Dallas trail the Boston Celtics in the updated NBA championship odds, but rank well ahead of the Indiana Pacers.

Expert Prediction: Minnesota Timberwolves (-180), Minnesota Timberwolves Win Series 4-3 (+400)

Strap the oxygen tanks back on, because in order for Minnesota to advance to its first-ever Finals, it will need to do so in seven games for a second series in a row.

This pick is an acknowledgement of how stifling the Timberwolves' defense was against the Nuggets, keeping someone like Jamal Murray at bay for the most part by constantly rotating wings on him and pressuring the ball-handler up the court. The three-man unit of Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Naz Reid performed amicably against the three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, although there's only so much that can be done with that particular matchup.

Much of this series rides on the health of Doncic, because he averaged 36.5 points on better than 50 percent shooting in two meetings with Minnesota during the regular season and rarely showed any signs that the opposing defense got to him. Who knows what version of Irving will get in this series after what we witnessed in the second round, and it's difficult to imagine Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford exploiting mismatches like it did against rookie Chet Holmgren versus the likes of a Defensive Player of the Year in Gobert under the rim. 

As impressive as the Timberwolves' playoff run has been, they're still inexperienced, and the franchise as a whole has only been this far once before. This series will be much closer and far more competitive than the odds would lead you to believe, yet Minnesota gets the edge here because of what it just pulled off against Denver defensively, although what Dallas mustered up against the Thunder in six games shouldn't be discounted either.

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