Nuggets underdogs to close out Wolves in Game 6
Thu May 16 1:36pm ET
Field Level Media
The Denver Nuggets have reeled off three impressive victories to put themselves one game away from the Western Conference Finals, but the reigning champs are underdogs ahead of Game 6 at Minnesota on Thursday.
TRENDING
The Wolves are 2.0- to 2.5-point favorites ahead of Game 6 at most sportsbooks.
The line has held steady at 2.5 at BetMGM, despite the Nuggets being backed by 77 percent of the spread-line money. Meanwhile, Denver's moneyline has moved from +120 to +110 with the Nuggets backed by 92 percent of the money.
The 2.0-point line at BetRivers has drawn similar action, with the Wolves backed by just 31 percent of the money. The Nuggets +114 moneyline at the book has been backed by 79 percent of the money.
PROP PICKS
--Nikola Jokic Over 25.5 points (-215 at BetRivers): The Nuggets' superstar is coming off arguably the best performance in this year's postseason, scoring 40 points on 15-for-22 shooting in Game 5. He has 99 points in his past three games. Despite the short odds, this has received the most support with 2.1 percent of all money wagered on Game 6 player props.
--Anthony Edwards Under 6.5 Assists (-135 at BetMGM): The Under has drawn 99 percent of the bets at the book. Edwards is coming off a nine-assist effort in Game 5, but has gone under 6.5 in three of the first five games of the series. In order to force a Game 7, the Wolves need Edwards to be a scorer first, distributor second.
THE NEWS
Denver, which lost the first two games of the series, has responded with three wins in a row to seize a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven series. The Nuggets are coming off a 112-97 win in Game 5 on Tuesday night to push the Timberwolves into an elimination game.
How is Minnesota feeling after Jokic's latest superstar performance?
"I just laugh, man," Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards said. "That's all I can do. I can't be mad.
"Because he's good, man. ... He's the MVP, best player in the NBA. He showed it the last three games. He was special (in Game 5). I've got to give him his flowers. I don't know what we're supposed to do. He was that guy (on Tuesday)."
The Timberwolves will have to find a way to slow Jokic and force a winner-take-all Game 7, which would be Sunday in Denver.
Denver could have felt down after falling behind 0-2 in the series, including a 26-point shellacking in Game 2. But coach Michael Malone challenged his group and showed them comments from national prognosticators who declared the series all but over after two games.
The Nuggets responded by outscoring Minnesota by an average of 16.7 points per game since then.
"It took a lot of effort to get back into this series, but it was an effort that our guys were committed to," Malone said. "I think that effort was a big part of why we won (Tuesday). We had 30 assists, so that says a lot about how well we moved the basketball. We got in transition and got easy buckets.
"We are obviously not satisfied. Now we have to go up to Minnesota and try to close it out, and that's always the toughest game."
INJURY REPORT
Timberwolves guard Mike Conley did not play on Tuesday because of soreness in his right Achilles tendon. Conley is listed as questionable on the injury report for Game 6.
STARS ALIGNING
Jokic leads the Nuggets with 28.8 points per game in the playoffs this season. Jamal Murray is next with 20.2 points per game in the postseason, while Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 17.4.
Edwards is averaging 30.6 points per game in the playoffs to lead the Timberwolves. Karl-Anthony Towns ranks second with 19.3 points and center Rudy Gobert is averaging 12.6 points.
THEY SAID IT
Gobert, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, said he and his teammates need to stay positive -- especially where Jokic is concerned.
"We've got to keep our head," Gobert said. "I think that's the story for us. We know he's a one-of-a-kind player. We know he's going to make some incredible plays. But we've got to keep at it. ...
"The second half (on Tuesday), we got a little too demoralized. We can't have that."
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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (knee, ankle) will play in Thursday's meeting with the Boston Celtics. He was listed as probable heading into Game 1 of the NBA Finals. However, there wasn't much concern regarding his availability, considering he's battled lingering knee and ankle soreness for weeks. The 25-year-old wasn't himself during the Conference Semifinals. However, Doncic averaged 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists while shooting 43.4% from behind the arc in the previous series versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. While he may not be as productive against Boston, he remains a top DFS option for Game 1.
Dallas Mavericks forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (ankle) is good to go for Game 1 of the NBA Finals versus the Boston Celtics. The rookie has been sidelined for most of the postseason because of a sprained left ankle. However, with Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, Maxi Kleber, and Dereck Lively II available, Prosper isn't anticipated to do much for DFS managers.
According to Evan Sidery of Forbes Sports, impending free agent guard/forward Buddy Hield is expected to draw "strong interest" from teams this offseason, with the Bucks, Magic, Suns, and Timberwolves the favorites to acquire his talents. After inking a four-year, $94 million contract with the Kings in 2020-21, Hield was dealt to Indiana before eventually ending up in Philadelphia for the 2023-24 campaign. While Hield had some solid performances, he struggled overall by averaging 12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting 38.9% from deep. Fortunately, the 2016 No. 6 overall pick could turn things around with a new club, meaning he has a good chance to bounce back for fantasy managers in 2024-25.
According to Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) won't have a minutes restriction on Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran has been sidelined for well over a month because of a Soleus strain. With that said, Porzingis could still see less work than usual, meaning Al Horford remains a viable, albeit risky, DFS option for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic had a game-high 30 points in Game 1 of the NBA Finals versus the Celtics. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, with Boston taking the win to claim the first contest of the series. Doncic added 10 rebounds and two steals. However, he struggled shooting, going 12-for-26 from the field and 4-for-12 from deep while contributing only one assist. The 25-year-old is still burdened by lingering knee and ankle soreness, and he was observed grimacing in pain throughout the contest. As such, Doncic will likely appear on the injury report heading into Game 2 on Sunday in Boston. But, as usual, he still has a good chance to be the most productive player on the floor.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum had a double-double in Thursday's win over the Dallas Mavericks. He amassed 16 points and 11 rebounds, adding five assists and a block. Unfortunately, the former Duke Blue Devil had issues taking care of the ball in Game 1, committing six turnovers. Tatum was arguably the C's most productive performer throughout the Eastern Conference Finals. But it's not uncommon for him to have an off night on the scoring end. With that in mind, Tatum could turn things around in Game 2, with Boston looking to earn another win before the series heads back to Dallas.
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) was available for the win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night. Despite missing over a month with a Soleus strain, the veteran looked great in his 21 minutes off the bench, amassing 20 points off 8-for-13 shooting from the field while adding six boards and three blocks. Head coach Joe Mazzulla indicated before the game that Porzingis wouldn't have a minutes restriction. While that should continue to be the case in Game 2 on Sunday, he may not see the floor much more than in Game 1. However, as long as Porzingis remains as productive, DFS managers won't mind.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown had a team-high 22 points in the win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday evening. He added six rebounds, two assists, three steals, and three blocks. While Jayson Tatum is always the focal point for opposing defenses, Brown had another solid showing. There's no reason why that trend shouldn't continue for Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, so DFS managers should keep him on the radar.
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving struggled in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against Boston on Thursday. He scored only 12 points, shooting a rough 6-for-19 from the field while failing to make any of his five attempts from deep. Although he added three boards, two assists, and two steals, it wasn't his best showing. At any rate, head coach Jason Kidd will likely make some adjustments for Game 2 on Sunday night, meaning Irving has a chance to get back on track in an attempt to knot the series ahead of Game 3 in Dallas.
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday contributed in the way he knows best, all-around on offense and a strong showing on defense. In the Game 1 blowout win over the Dallas Mavericks, the veteran combo guard registered 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and one steal while shooting 4-for-9 from the floor and 2-for-5 from deep. He didn't commit a single turnover and was a big part of the defensive masterclass against Kyrie Irving and company. Holiday and Derrick White have been a huge one-two punch in the backcourt and they'll continue to be showcased throughout this Finals matchup.
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington delivered the second-most points on the team behind the 30-point performance from Luka Doncic. The bad thing is that resulted in a blowout loss in Game 1 by the tune of 107-89. Washington posted 14 points on 5-for-11 shooting and chipped in eight rebounds and one assist. He was unable to hit any threes in this contest and the team followed suit as they went 7-for-27 from deep. The former Hornet has been a key piece to the Mavericks' playoff run so far, and he's likely to deliver at least a couple of big offensive performances. His defensive abilities will be tested against the potent Celtics offense.
Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy provided the biggest scoring punch off of the bench while the rest of the bench combined for just seven points. The second-year combo guard finished the game with 13 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one made three. He shot 4-for-8 from the floor and knocked down all four of his free throw attempts as well. Hardy saw fewer minutes per game this season than his rookie year, but he's played in more games and has put together some important performances through the playoffs so far. He's climbed higher in the postseason depth chart than Tim Hardaway Jr. which wasn't something that many people predicted in the preseason.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White didn't need to break out the heroics in Game 1 for the team to notch a blowout win over the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran guard finished with 15 points, five assists, two rebounds, one steal, and two turnovers while shooting 5-for-11 from the floor and 3-for-8 from downtown. The fact that this seemed like a down game for White is a problem for the Mavericks. The offensive firepower ran through Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis in this one, but White has the ability to lead the team in scoring on any given night. His defense has also been a key piece in their success and he'll look to do more of the same in Game 2 on Sunday.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (knee, ankle) is probable for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. Despite having a week off, the 25-year-old is back on the injury report because of knee and ankle soreness, something he's dealt with throughout the postseason. However, DFS managers have nothing to worry about, as Doncic is nearly a lock to be ready for Thursday night. While he struggled during the Conference semifinals, averaging 24.7 points, he turned it around in the Western Conference Finals, averaging 32.4 points. With that in mind, Doncic will make a fine addition to any DFS lineup, assuming he's cleared to play.
Dallas Mavericks forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (ankle) is questionable for Thursday's playoff meeting against the Boston Celtics. He's been sidelined for most of the postseason because of a sprained left ankle. However, with Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the rookie won't see much action even if he gets the green light to suit up.
Boston Celtics forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (calf) will officially be available for Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals against Dallas on Thursday. The Celtics have removed him from their injury report and list no other injuries. Porzingis last played on April 29 in Game 4 of Boston's first-round matchup against Miami. After missing four weeks of action, he likely won't be at his best on Thursday, but it will be great to see Porzingis back in action. His return means a lesser role for Al Horford, although the veteran should still play an important role in the rotation.
Sacramento Kings guard/forward Malik Monk is poised to land himself a big contract as a free agent this summer, and the Detroit Pistons are seen as a team that will heavily pursue his signature. "Monk feels like someone the Pistons will heavily prioritize due to the team's need for legitimate three-point shooting and off-the-dribble shot creation," writes James L. Edwards III of the Athletic. Monk has been one of the best bench players in the league in recent seasons and averaged career-highs of 15.4 points and 5.1 with Sacramento in 2023-24. Recent reports suggest that Monk could command over $20 million per year as a free agent.
Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and should have plenty of suitors following a strong season. James L. Edwards III of The Athletic has reported that the Detroit Pistons could go "heavily" after Claxton, who averaged 11.8 points, a career-high 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in 2023-24. Detroit has the most cap space available this summer, and newly hired president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon will be desperate to improve a team that has finished back-to-back seasons with the worst record in the NBA.
Detroit Pistons forward Simone Fontecchio is set to get a new deal from the team this summer. James L. Edwards III of The Athletic expects the Pistons to re-sign Fontecchio after the Italian enjoyed a good 16-game stint with the team in 2023-24. After coming over from Utah in February, Fontecchio averaged 15.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in Detroit, with 42.6 percent shooting deep. His campaign was cut short by a toe injury, which needed surgery. Fontecchio appeared to be a good fit for the Pistons. But the team has just parted ways with general manager Troy Weaver, and plenty more changes could be on the horizon, meaning there's quite a bit of uncertainty surrounding the Pistons.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace is eager to improve following his rookie campaign. "Being more decisive when I have the ball in my hands," Wallace said in his exit interview. "Not just being a shooter, being able to play inside the (three-point) line as well." Wallace impressed with his outside shooting in 2023-24, hitting 41.9 percent of his triples. He averaged 6.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 20.6 minutes, earning an NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection. Wallace's role should only continue to grow on the young Thunder team.