The Denver Nuggets will try to continue their recent home mastery of the Minnesota Timberwolves when they meet in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series in the 2023 NBA Playoffs on Sunday. The Nuggets (53-29), who have won eight of the past 10 home games against Minnesota, and finished the regular season with a 34-7 home record. The Timberwolves (42-40), who were 20-21 on the road this year, have won eight of their last 12 games. Denver is making its fifth consecutive appearance in the NBA Playoffs, while Minnesota is making its second straight.
Tipoff from Ball Arena in Denver is set for 10:30 p.m. ET. Denver is an 8-point favorite in the latest Timberwolves vs. Nuggets odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 224.5. Before locking in any Nuggets vs. Timberwolves picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model entered the 2023 NBA playoffs a stunning 71-36 on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Nuggets vs. Timberwolves and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for T'Wolves vs. Nuggets:
- Nuggets vs. Timberwolves spread: Nuggets -8
- Nuggets vs. Timberwolves over/under: 224.5 points
- Nuggets vs. Timberwolves money line: Timberwolves +260, Nuggets -335
- MIN: Timberwolves are 5-1 against the spread in their last six road games
- DEN: Nuggets are 4-1 ATS in their last five Sunday games
- Nuggets vs. Timberwolves picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Nuggets can cover
Power forward Aaron Gordon, who missed time with a shoulder injury, is expected to be back against Minnesota. In 68 games, all starts, he averaged 16.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and three assists in 30.2 minutes. In three games against the Timberwolves, Gordon averaged 16 points, 7.3 rebounds, five assists, 1.7 steals and one block in 29.3 minutes of action. He scored in double-figures in 60 games, including 17 with 20 or more and two with 30-plus. He recorded 11 double-doubles, and has 96 in his career to go along with two triple-doubles.
Small forward Bruce Brown is also a big part of the Nuggets' success. In 80 games, including 31 starts, Brown is averaging 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 28.5 minutes of action. He finished the regular season with a flourish, scoring 31 points and grabbing six rebounds in a 119-115 loss at Phoenix April 6, and added 21 points, six rebounds and six assists in a 109-95 win over Sacramento April 9. In four games against Minnesota, he averaged 12.3 points, four assists and 2.8 rebounds. See which team to pick here.
Why the Timberwolves can cover
Despite that, Denver isn't a lock to cover the Timberwolves vs. Nuggets spread. That's because shooting guard Anthony Edwards has been on fire, scoring 23 or more points in each of the last four games. In an April 2 loss to Portland, he poured in 37 points, while adding 33 in a win at San Antonio on April 8. He faced the Nuggets four times during the regular season, averaging 21 points on 46.4% shooting from the field. He also averaged 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and one steal per game against Denver. For the year, Edwards is averaging 24.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals.
Center Karl-Anthony Towns has returned from injury just in time for the playoffs. Towns did not face the Nuggets this year, but in four games against them in 2021-2022, he averaged 25.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and one block in 32 minutes. For the season, Towns has played in 29 games, averaging 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 33 minutes. In Friday's win over Oklahoma City, Towns finished with a double-double, scoring 28 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. See which team to pick here.
How to make Timberwolves vs. Nuggets picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 228 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time. You can only see the model's NBA picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Nuggets vs. Timberwolves in the NBA Playoffs 2023? And which side of the spread hits almost 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 71-36 roll on NBA picks, and find out.
