5 Expert Picks
While we don't expect the Knicks to simply wave the ...
Trends Come To An End
Knicks Are Live For Me Here
Can the Knicks finish off the Pacers? ...
Series Should Be Over
Past Picks
This line is available for a lot better prices if you shop around. I have to back the guys fighting for their lives tonight, and that means hitting the boards harder. KAT has followed up his poor rebounding games with double digit games throughout the series. History would tell us tonight he should get back on track. The SL model has him projected for 8 rebounds, and I expect four quarters of effort will get us there tonight.
Either game script leads me to believe this can hit. Anthony Edwards will have to show up big for Minnesota if they want a shot at this game, or he will be playing from behind and want to put up threes. The shot volume has been there the past three games: 8, 8, and 5 three-point attempts, and he's gone over this total in 3 of the 4 games. The urgency of this game should allow us to see similar volume again.
This one is a little juicy. However, Jaden McDaniels has had at least one block in six straight games. This season against Denver, McDaniels has had at least one block in seven out of nine games. With the season on the line and playing at home, the Timberwolves should some out and set the tempo with their defense like they did in the first two games of the series.
Minnesota’s Mike Conley is active tonight. The Timberwolves have lost the last three games but are still 30-11 SU at home this season. The line has moved in Denver’s favor, but the Timberwolves still opened as a two-and-a-half-point favorite. The public is heavily favoring Denver and with the season on the line you can expect a motivated Timberwolves team in a great atmosphere.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are heading home after losing three consecutive games for the first time this season. Denver has shot at least 54% from the field in all three victories. Minnesota will be motivated, as the Nuggets have won both games in Minnesota. Closeout games are challenging on the road. I believe Minnesota will extend this series with a strong performance at Target Center.
The Nuggets have scored at least 112 points in three straight games after reaching 112 in one of their first seven this postseason. They have figured out the Timberwolves and win the series tonight in the Twin Cities. Great in-series adjustments by Nuggets coach Michael Malone.
Newsflash: Gobert can't come close to containing Jokic and I'd be shocked if they decided to truly sellout to doubling him now. So does that mean more KAT on him? That's fine I think The Joker can take him off the dribble and to the rim. They can't collapse on him with Gordon and Murray and Porter shooting so well. This is a close-out game for me, and Jokic has another 30 in him knowing the importance of getting some RnR before the WCF. I see him taking matters into his own hands quite a bit and going to the line quite a bit
The Nuggets I expected to see all along in playoffs have finally materialized, and the young Wolves are on the ropes. Momentum is fleeting and the longer this series goes the more Murray not being banned from Game 3 looms large. Denver has found its bench and honed its rotations while the Wolves suddenly are looking for answers. I don't think the pressure and scrutiny will bring out the best in KAT and Gobert and now MIN is the frustrated team. They can't stop The Joker and he can take this game over himself, knowing the import of extra rest before the WCF. MIN needed to keep this a low scoring series, but Nugs cracked the code, scoring 112, 115, 117 in 3 wins.
Mike Conley (strained calf) is questionable after sitting out Game 5. He was present at shootaround Thursday. The expectation is that with Minnesota facing elimination, he'll play. But he could focus primarily on facilitating -- he's averaging 7.8 assists in the series -- and his minutes could be reduced. Look for Conley to try to get Anthony Edwards back on track after Ant's 5-of-15 performance in Game 5.
With their season on the line, the host Timberwolves can't let Nikola Jokic destroy them again. He had 40 points and 13 assists in Denver's Game 5 win. Sending more help at Jokic should put more of a playmaking and scoring burden on Jamal Murray. He typically elevates his game on the road, anyway, having cleared this prop in nine of his last 10 road games. In this series, Murray posted 29 and 27 combined points plus assists in Minnesota.