Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Two Western Conference contenders meet up for the first time this season as the Minnesota Timberwolves host the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

The teams have faced each other in each of the past two postseasons with Denver defeating the T-Wolves in five games in the first round en route to its first NBA title two years ago. Minnesota returned the favor last Spring, winning a Western Conference semifinals matchup in seven games.

The two teams split the season series last year as well.

Both teams enter this game at .500, and getting the win here would be an early-season boost in the jam-packed West.

Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves betting picks and predictions

Denver Nuggets +4.5 (-110)

Both teams have gotten out of the gate at 2-2. The Nuggets lost two games at home to start the 2024/25 NBA season, but have already won on the road twice this week.

And they've already played two overtime contests: the Nuggets won at the Toronto Raptors 127-125, and then beat the Brooklyn Nets 144-139.

Minnesota, meanwhile, has split two games at home this week, defeating the Raptors 112-101, before falling by six points to the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night. 

Denver is 0-4 against the spread, while Minnesota is 1-3 ATS overall and 0-2 ATS at home. The teams have split their last 10 games, so it may come down to who has the hottest hand between the club’s two superstars.

Denver’s Nikola Jokic is averaging 31.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists as the Serbian big man plans to be in the thick of the race for his fourth league MVP in five seasons.

The Nuggets have five guys averaging in double figures. After Jokic, Jamaal Murray (18.8 PPG), Aaron Gordon (15.5 PPG), Christian Braun (14 PPG), and Michael Porter Jr. (13.3 PPG) are all getting the job done on offense as a starting five.

The Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards, coming off an Olympic Gold Medal with the United States, is averaging 30 points a contest to lead the team. Julius Randle has started strong in his debut season with Minnesota after the blockbuster trade that sent him from New York. He is averaging 23.3 points and seven rebounds.

Both teams have been off since Tuesday, so expect a fresh battle, and look for Denver to cover the 4.5-point spread in its first game as an underdog this season.

Over 218.0 Total Points (-110)

Both teams have played to the Over two out of four times, and the two have each totaled more than 218 points two out of four times. 

The difference here is these two teams have recent playoff history that will fuel a fast-paced matchup this evening.

The Nuggets are coming off two road wins where the games totaled 252 and 283 points, respectively. Jokic is already in midseason form, and Edwards will want to match him basket for basket.

Look for Denver and Minnesota to total Over 218.0 points. 

Nikola Jokic Over 26.5 points (-135)

After opening the season with just 16 points, albeit as part of a triple-double performance in a 102-87 defeat at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jokic has been his usual unstoppable self, averaging more than 36 points in the past three contests. 

He has already gone for 40 or more points twice and on Tuesday night against the Nets last time out, he posted his second triple-double of the season - 29 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists.

Jokic is currently tied for the league lead in scoring at 31.5 points per game, and he is top-five in both rebounds and assists.

In a matchup against the team that eliminated the Nuggets from the playoffs last year and ended their quest for a repeat, look for Jokic to show his displeasure with another premium scoring output and go Over 26.5 points. 

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Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves odds

Denver Nuggets	+155 ML
Minnesota Timberwolves	-185 ML
Spread	MIN Timberwolves -4.5
Total Points	O/U 218.0

Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves player props

Player Points

Nikola Jokic (DEN Nuggets)	O/U 26.5
Jamal Murray (DEN Nuggets)	O/U 19.5
Michael Porter Jr. (DEN Nuggets)	O/U 13.5
Anthony Edwards (MIN Timberwolves)	O/U 26.5
Julius Randle (MIN Timberwolves)	O/U 20.5
Naz Reid (MIN Timberwolves)	O/U 11.5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.