The Minnesota Timberwolves are up 2-0 in the series after a 105-93 win in Game 2 last Wednesday. One more win and that could mean the end of the road for Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns. Will the Timberwolves push Phoenix to the brink of elimination? Or, will the Suns find a way to cut their series deficit in half with a win in Game 3?

Catch this game live on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 10:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Minnesota Timberwolves (2-0)

Projected Starting Five:

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

The Timberwolves got swept by Phoenix back in the regular season, but who’s laughing now? Minnesota is smooth sailing so far in the first round and it’s doing it with defense. The Timberwolves have held Phoenix in the series down to only 94.0 points per game on 44.4 percent shooting from the field and also forced the Suns to commit 17.5 turnovers per outing. 

And even when their brightest star wasn’t clicking in Game 2, the Timberwolves were still able to rely on their defense and from the others on offense. Anthony Edwards shot just 3/12 in Game 2 for 15 points, but Jaden McDaniels stunned the Suns with 25 points on 10/17 shooting from the floor. Back to their defense, the Timberwolves have limited Suns stars Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to just 37.9 FG% and 44.4 FG%, respectively.

The Timberwolves are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven games away from home.

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Home: Phoenix Suns (0-2)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Devin Booker
  • Bradley Beal
  • Grayson Allen (DTD)
  • Kevin Durant
  • Jusuf Nurkic

The Suns are too talented to be swept in the first round of the playoffs. Booker knows that, so he must be so eager to play in front of Phoenix’s home crowd again, as he hopes to break out of his slump. Back in the regular season, Booker averaged 25.1 points and shot 47.1 FG% and 38.6 3FG% in home games.

After Minnesota severely outrebounded them in Game 1 (52-28), the Suns did better on the glass in Game 2 and even won the rebounding battle (41-39) which helped them keep up with the Timberwolves in shots taken from the field (78-78), However, Minnesota got 30 attempts from the free throw line to just 19 by the Suns. Staying strong on the glass while putting in a more honest effort on defense are major keys in Game 3 for Phoenix, which is  4-2 ATS in its last six games as the home team.

Picks

Spread: Phoenix Suns (-4.0)

Over/Under: Under (207.5)

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