The Minnesota Timberwolves have a golden opportunity to add more pressure to the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of this series. But that is going to be easier said than done, considering that the Nuggets are still a formidable team led by arguably the best player in the league this season. Will the Timberwolves take a 2-0 series lead? Or, will the Nuggets respond with a victory?

Catch this game live on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 10:00 AM, Manila time

Away: Minnesota Timberwolves (1-0)

Projected Starting Five:

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

The job is far from done, but at least for the Timberwolves, they have already hit an important milestone in the series and that’s stealing a win in enemy territory. Thanks to Anthony Edwards’ explosive performance in Game 1, the Timberwolves scored a 106-99 win over the defending champs. Edwards showered the Nuggets with 43 points to improve his scoring average this postseason to 33.4 points per game while shooting 53.2 percent from the floor. 

No one knows how long Edwards will be able to sustain that form, but it’s good for the Timberwolves to see his teammates providing ample support. In Game 1, Mike Conley Jr. and Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 and 20 points, respectively, while Naz Reid chipped in 16 of the team’s 23 bench points. Jayden McDaniels, meanwhile, laid an egg in Game 1 while going 0/7 from the field. It could — and should — get better for him.

The Timberwolves are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games away from home.

Home: Denver Nuggets (0-1)

Projected Starting Five:

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

The Nuggets did not lose a Game 1 back in the 2023 NBA Playoffs and also took Game 1 of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. That streak came to an end in this matchup against Minnesota, though, thus putting Denver in quite unfamiliar territory. And if the Nuggets are to avoid falling down a 2-0 hole in the series, they may have to do it without star point guard Jamal Murray, who is listed questionable for Game 2 with a left calf strain. 

If Murray can’t go, the Nuggets will likely start veteran guard Reggie Jackson, who’s shown the ability to shine when given an expanded role by head coach Michael Malone. Of course, Nikola Jokic is still around to lead the team. Despite the Timberwolves throwing big bodies at him in Game 1, the two-time league MVP still managed to rack up 32 points and grab eight rebounds to go with nine assists.

Denver is 13-13 this season against the spread in games after a loss.

Picks

Spread: Denver Nuggets (-5.5)

Over/Under: Under (205.5)