Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction, 4/21/2023 Preview and Pick
Game: Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Date: Friday, April 21, 2023
Location: Target Center in Minneapolis, MN
TV: ESPN
Odds/Point Spread: Denver (-2)
The Denver Nuggets are on their way to Target Center on Friday where they will attempt to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their series. Denver leads 2-0. Denver opens as 2-point favorites from Vegas oddsmakers. The betting total is set at 223.
The Nuggets went home with a win by a final score of 122-113 in Game 2. Denver finished with a 54.1% FG percentage (46 out of 85) and converted 10 out of their 22 shots from beyond the arc. At the charity stripe, the Nuggets knocked down 20 of 25 tries for a percentage of 80.0%. In terms of grabbing boards, they collected 36 with 9 of them being offensive. They also dished out 26 dimes in this contest while forcing the other team into 13 turnovers and getting 6 steals. With regard to the defense, Denver allowed the other team to go 50.6% from the floor on 40 out of 79 shooting. Minnesota recorded 24 assists and had 4 steals in the matchup. On top of that, Minnesota snagged 35 rebounds (9 offensive, 26 defensive) and added 1 block. Minnesota shot 82.6% when shooting free throws by making 19 of their 23 shots. They also buried 14 of 31 shots from downtown. In reference to fouls, the Nuggets walked away with 25 and the Timberwolves accumulated 25 fouls.
Jamal Murray is one guy who was a contributor for this contest. Murray finished 59.1% from the field and earned 5 assists. He saw the court for 39 mins played and totaled 3 rebounds. He ended up finishing with 40 points on 13 out of 22 shooting.
Denver heads into this game with a record of 53-29 this year. They have an average of 115.8 points per contest (12th in basketball) while shooting 50.4% from the floor. The Nuggets are connecting on 37.9% on shots beyond the perimeter (969 of 2,559) and 75.1% from the free throw line. As a unit, Denver is collecting 43.0 boards per game and has 2,368 assists for the season, which has them ranked 2nd in basketball in terms of passing. They lose possession via turnover 14.5 times per game and as a unit are committing 18.6 personal fouls per contest.
When they are on defense, the Nuggets have forced 13.5 turnovers per contest and they draw 19.5 fouls. They currently rank 16th in basketball in giving up assists to their opponents with 2,105 conceded this year. The Nuggets defensively are giving up an opponent shooting percentage of 47.8% (3,423 of 7,166) and they concede 40.8 boards per game as a squad. They are relinquishing 34.4% on shots from beyond the arc and they are 8th in basketball in points per game allowed (112.5).
In reference to how they cleaned up the glass in Game 2, Minnesota allowed Denver to snag 36 in total (9 offensive). They finished the game shooting 45.5% from behind the 3-point line by connecting on 10 out of 22 and walked away from this one shooting 20 out of 25 from the free throw line (80.0%). The Timberwolves permitted the Nuggets to bury 46 out of their 85 tries from the field which left them with a rate of 54.1% for this contest. At the conclusion of this game, the Timberwolves walked away from this one shooting 40 for 79 from the floor which gave them a rate of 50.6%. In relation to shooting from 3-point land, Minnesota converted 14 of 31 tries (45.2%). They were able to convert 19 of the free throws for a clip of 82.6%. The Nuggets had 25 personal fouls in the game which took the Timberwolves to the charity stripe for 23 tries. They also coughed it up 13 times, while earning 4 steals in the game. The Timberwolves were able to snag 26 defensive rebounds and 9 offensive rebounds totaling 35 for the game.
Anthony Edwards was important for the Timberwolves for this contest. He made 14 out of 23 for the contest giving him a field goal percentage of 60.9%, and earned 2 rebounds. Edwards earned 41 points in his 42 mins of playing time and added 4 assists for this contest.
Minnesota has a win-loss mark of 42-40 for the campaign. The Timberwolves are committing 21.6 fouls per game and they shoot 75.5% from the free throw line. They are earning an assist 26.2 times per contest (8th in the league) and they turn the ball over 15.3 times per game. Minnesota has totaled 9,494 points this season (115.8 per game) and they pull in 41.9 rebounds per game. As an offensive unit, the Timberwolves are connecting on 49.0% from the field, which has them ranked 3rd in the NBA.
The Timberwolves on defense are ranked 18th in basketball in PPG surrendered with 115.8. They are forcing their opponents into 15.4 turnovers per game and have let teams shoot 47.1% from the floor (11th in the NBA). The Minnesota defense allows 36.9% on 3-pointers (1,007 of 2,728) and their opponents are making 76.6% of their shots from the charity stripe. They allow 25.0 dimes and 44.7 boards every game, ranking them 12th and 22nd in the NBA.
Who will win tonight's NBA game against the spread?
Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Denver (-2)
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