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For the second yr in a row, the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves are squaring off within the NBA playoffs. The Nuggets dispatched the Wolves within the first spherical final yr, however Minnesota appears like a extra full group this time round — one eyeing a second-round upset of the reigning champs. The No. 3-seed Wolves pulled off a formidable sweep of the No. 6-seed Suns within the first spherical, whereas the No. 2-seed Nuggets ousted the No. 7-seed Lakers in 5 video games to advance to the Western Convention semifinals of the NBA playoff bracket.
The Nuggets and Wolves jostled with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the West’s high seed all year long. OKC finally grabbed the highest seed because of a tiebreaker, and Denver (57-25) completed one sport forward of Minnesota (56-26). The Nuggets took out the Wolves in 5 video games in the course of the first spherical final season on their approach to the 2023 NBA title.
“We will get higher and we’ll need to get higher as a result of Minnesota was the No. 1 group within the West for a lot of the yr,” Denver coach Michael Malone told reporters this week, “and it’ll be a hard-fought collection and I am positive they’ll need revenge from final season.”
This yr’s collection kicks off Saturday, Might 4 as Denver hosts Recreation 1. Here is every thing to know concerning the second-round collection, together with the collection schedule, viewing info, odds and game-by-game predictions as each concludes.
All occasions Jap | * If vital
Time: 7 p.m. ET | Date: Saturday, Might 4
Location: Ball Enviornment — Denver
TV channel: TNT | Streaming: Watch TNT, Max
Collection odds: Nuggets -185, Wolves +155
The Wolves have firmly established themselves as one of many Nuggets’ high challengers within the West. Minnesota had its greatest common season in 20 years as Rudy Gobert anchored a stellar protection and Anthony Edwards climbed just a few extra rungs on the celebrity ladder. Each the Wolves protection and Edwards have been nice of their first-round sweep of the Suns. Minnesota held Phoenix below 100 factors in every of the primary two video games, and Edwards averaged 31 factors within the collection, capturing 43.8% on 3-pointers.
The Nuggets took care of the Lakers in 5 video games. Nikola Jokic was his common dominant self, however Jamal Murray got here up clutch twice, hitting game-winning photographs in Video games 2 and 5.
Whereas the Nuggets solely wanted 5 video games to eradicate the Wolves final yr, former Denver guard Bruce Brown said last year that the Wolves have been the Nuggets’ hardest take a look at throughout their run to the championship.
It could possibly be one other battle for the Nuggets this yr. SportsLine’s simulations think there could be an upset brewing in the second round.
The Nuggets seemed a bit susceptible within the first spherical, however have been terrific in closing time in opposition to the Lakers. The Wolves ran away from the Suns and appear to be a juggernaut themselves. It could possibly be one other Nuggets playoff sport that comes right down to the wire, so take Minnesota and the factors. Decide: Wolves +4.5
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