After winning Game 2, 106-80, the Minnesota Timberwolves will play at home for the first time in the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Will Anthony Edwards and company bring the hammer down again on the Denver Nuggets? Or, will the Nuggets avoid the dreaded 3-0 series hole with a victory?

Catch this game live on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 9:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Denver Nuggets (0-2)

Projected Starting Five:

• Jamal Murray (Questionable)
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Questionable)
• Michael Porter Jr.
• Aaron Gordon
• Nikola Jokic

The Nuggets are down bad in the series, but they have been in a deeper hole before. It can be recalled that they were behind 3-1 in each of the first two rounds back in the 2020 NBA Playoffs in the Orlando Bubble but came out alive in both series. But it can’t be denied that they are in trouble regardless of how much Michael Malone plays it down. 

The Nuggets also have three players with questionable tags for Game 3 at the moment, including Jamal Murray, who is dealing with a calf issue. Given the importance of Saturday’s game, Murray can be expected to play. It’s also high time for Nikola Jokic to step up his play. The Serbian is still averaging 24.0 points per game in the series but he’s shooting just 42.1 FG%. Perhaps winning this third MVP in four years along with the sense of desperation will spark him in Game 3. The Nuggets are 3-2 against the spread in their last five games away from Mile High City.

Home: Minnesota Timberwolves (2-0)

Projected Starting Five:

• Mike Conley
• Anthony Edwards
• Jaden McDaniels
•  Karl-Anthony Towns
• Rudy Gobert

The Timberwolves are in an enviable position. Not only are they up 2-0 in the series against the defending champions, but they’re also playing at home in the next two games of the series. Such luxury. Speaking of which, the Timberwolves are getting spoiled by the consistently stellar play of Anthony Edwards. The former No. 1 pick dropped 27 points on 11/17 shooting from the field in Game 2. 

It could get even better for the Timberwolves, as Rudy Gobert is set to return after being away in Game 2 for reasons Gilbert Arenas can’t fathom. Minnesota already held the Nuggets to just 34.9FG% and Jamal Murray to just 3/18 shooting in Game 2, so Gobert’s return can look like a bit of an overkill for the Timberwolves. But Minnesota isn’t taking any prisoners and will look to go all out again in Game 3 at home, where they are 4-1 ATS in their last five postseason games.

Picks

Spread: Denver Nuggets (+4.5)

Over/Under: Over (205.0)