The Phoenix Suns and the Minnesota Timberwolves are all set to kick off their first-round series this Sunday. Will the Suns continue their mastery of Minnesota this season? Or, will the Timberwolves cool down Phoenix in the Twin Cities?
Catch this game live on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 3:30 AM, Manila time
Away: Phoenix Suns (0-0)
Projected Starting Five:
- Devin Booker
- Bradley Beal
- Grayson Allen
- Kevin Durant
- Jusuf Nurkic
The Suns are healthy going into the playoffs. Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant are all ready to go, and that’s the triumvirate that made Phoenix one of the preseason favorites to go deep in the postseason and win it all. The Suns struggled with injuries in the regular season but will have practically all hands on deck for the start of the series against Minnesota.
Although they don’t have the homecourt advantage to start the series, the Suns, who are 3-1 against the spread in their last four outings away from The Valley, have the head-to-head lead this campaign versus Minnesota, having wiped out the Timberwolves in all three matchups back in the regular season.
The Suns defeated Minnesota (97-87) twice this April, one on the road and one at home (125-106.) Minnesota has the best scoring defense in the league, but the Suns averaged 118.3 points on 53.0 FG% and 48.8 3FG% against the T’wolves this season.
Home: Minnesota Timberwolves (0-0)
Projected Starting Five:
- Mike Conley
- Anthony Edwards
- Jaden McDaniels
- Karl-Anthony Towns
- Rudy Gobert
Sure, the Suns have tormented Minnesota this season, but was that the Timberwolves’ true form that showed up, particularly in the final two meetings between the two teams in the regular season? In any case, it’s tough to beat a great Minnesota squad four times in a row in the same season. Minnesota has won seven of its last 10 home games (4-6 ATS).
As mentioned, the Timberwolves finished the regular season No. 1 in the NBA with just 106.5 points allowed per game and also tops with a defensive 51.5 effective field goal percentage, thanks in large part to Rudy Gobert, who still matters regardless of how much trolling he gets from NBA experts on social media.
Offensively, Anthony Edwards is clearly the go-to guy and will be running alongside Karl-Anthony Towns, who should be feeling much better after recently returning from a long absence due to an injury. The Timberwolves’ outside shooting should factor as well into this matchup, as they are third overall with a 38.7 3FG%.
Picks
Spread: Minnesota Timberwolves (-1.5)
Over/Under: Under (214.5)
