Dallas (0-0) at Minnesota (0-0)
When: Wednesday, May 22nd 2024
Where: Target Center,
Minneapolis, MN
Time: 8:30 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Minnesota -4/208
The Dallas Mavericks are back in the Western Conference finals for the second time in three seasons when they lost to the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors. You have to go way back to find the last time the Minnesota Timberwolves have reached this round – 20 years to be precise.
These two teams will begin their best-of-seven series Wednesday night in Minneapolis. The T’wolves enters the Western Conference Finals as -185 favorites to win the series and 4-point favorites in Game 1 on Wednesday.
Minnesota had the third-best record in the Western Conference during the regular season and started the postseason like they were a No. 1 seed, sweeping Phoenix in the first round. Then things got tougher. The Denver Nuggets forced them to go all seven games after leading the T’wolves 3-2 after Game 5.
The Mavs were 50-32 in the regular season and avoided the play-in tournament with a three-game cushion. Dallas has played two six-game series, eliminating the L.A. Clippers in the first round and the OKC Thunder in the quarterfinals. The Mavericks went 2-1 at home and 2-1 on the road in each of their first two series.
The Timberwolves went 3-1 against the Mavs during the regular season, winning both at home and splitting in Dallas. The most recent was a 121-87 triumph at home, but to be fair, Luka Doncic was out injured for that game. All four matchups during the regular season fell Under the total. The Game 1 total is pegged at 207.5.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
Doncic is leading the Mavericks offense with 27.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game during the postseason. Kyrie Irving is averaging 21.1 points and shooting 48.2 percent from the field, while P.J. Washington (14.3 points per game) and Derrick Jones Jr. (10.8) also are scoring in double digits in the playoffs. Doncic recorded a triple-double (29, 10, 10) in the series clinching comeback win over the Thunder on Saturday.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
The Timberwolves defense was fantastic against the Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, limiting them to under 100 points in each of their four victories. Rudy Gobert was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team on Tuesday, and Jaden McDaniels was named to the All-Defensive Second Team. On offense, Anthony Edwards is leading Minnesota in the playoffs with 28.9 points per game, while Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 18.8 points and 9.3 rebounds. Gobert is averaging 10.9 rebounds a game and playing shutdown defense.
Prediction:
I like this Minnesota team and I think they have a chance at winning the NBA title this year. They have the best defense in the league and now their offense is clicking. The Target Center is going to be jumping on Wednesday and that will help carry the T’wolves to a Game 1 win.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for today.
