The Minneaota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets combined for just a single loss in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Sounds like an exciting series between two West juggernauts is in the offing in this second round series that starts this Sunday.

Catch this game live on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 7:00 AM, Manila time

Away: Minnesota Timberwolves (0-0)

Projected Starting Five:

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

How hot will Anthony Edwards be in the series opener against the reigning NBA champions? Edwards was spectacular in their first-round sweep of the Phoenix Suns. The former No. 1 overall pick carved up and demoralized the Suns through four games with an average of 31.0 points while shooting 51.2 percent from the field. Containing Edwards will be among the chief priorities of the Nuggets. 

Back in the regular season, Edwards averaged 26.0 points on 48.1 FG% in four games against the Nuggets, but he could be better this time around with all the confidence he got from the Suns series. Edwards aside, the Timberwolves’ frontcourt will present a different challenge for Denver, which didn’t have to face a twin tower combo in the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers. Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns should offer much more resistance against Nikola Jokic than the Lakers did in the previous round.

Home: Denver Nuggets (0-0)

Projected Starting Five:

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

The Nuggets had a gentleman’s sweep of Los Angeles in the first round, but it wasn’t easy as the 4-1 result looks on paper. Denver needed some Jamal Murray heroics to edge the Lakers in two of those games,. Murray, who averaged 23.6 points against the Lakers, is currently questionable for Game 1 of the Minnesota series because of a calf issue. He’ll likely play through it just like he did in the closeout Game 5 versus the Lakers, but the real question is how effective will he be in the series opener against the Timberwolves.  In any case, the Nuggets still have a healthy Nikola Jokic, who’s probably the most unsolvable star in the league right now. 

Likely to win the NBA MVP award for the third time, Jokic ripped the Lakers for a near triple-double average of 28.2 points, 16.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists, while shooting 59.1 FG% despite LA throwing all but the kitchen sink at him. Based on how he played versus Minnesota back in the regular season (33.3 PPG/11.8 RPG/4.3 APG/58.4 FG%), it doesn’t seem the Timberwolves are a big problem for the Serbian.

PICKS

Spread: Denver Nuggets (-4.5)

Over/Under: Under (207.0)