Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets: Predictions, picks and odds for Game 5 Tuesday

Jon Hoefling, USA TODAY
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) works around Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) in the first quarter of game four of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) works around Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) in the first quarter of game four of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center.

One of the toughest-fought playoff series in recent memory resumes tonight as the Denver Nuggets host the Minnesota Timberwolves in a pivotal Game 5 showdown. After each team dropped both of their home games through the first four contests, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets will look to change that trend and defend their home tonight and move one game closer to the Western Conference Finals.

Each team has had one sizable win and one close game so far. So, all in all, this has been a pretty evenly-matched series, even if a few of the games were not as close as the score would indicate.

The Nuggets, fresh off a 2023 NBA title, know what it takes to win, and that's what makes it hard to bet against them right now, especially coming off of two straight road victories. However, the Timberwolves have proven capable of shutting down Denver's offense, and if they can capture some of that magic again, Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and company could be headed to the team's first Western Conference Finals since 2004.

Here's what to know for this Game 5 showdown.

NBA Playoffs: Denver Nuggets seize opportunity to even up NBA playoff series vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Predictions for Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, Game 5:

FOX Sports: Nuggets 111, Timberwolves 110

FOX Sports notes that while the Timberwolves have beat the spread in five of eight games against the Nuggets this year, Denver's spectacular 73.6% win percentage as moneyline favorites is too good to like the Timberwolves straight up. They might beat the spread, but they won't win the game, based on FOX Sports' predicted score.

Vegas Insider: Nuggets (-4.5)

Michael Crosson writes, "Despite not looking up to the task in Games 1 and 2, it seems like [the Nuggets] finally found something in Games 3 and 4. So now, with both teams on an even surface and the motivational factors back in balance, I think we’ll see the home-away trends finally revert to the norm moving forward in this series. I’ll lay the points with Denver at home in Game 5."

ClutchPoints: Nuggets to win

Dominik Zawartko writes, "Ultimately, I think the Denver Nuggets will have too much momentum at home during this game and while Anthony Edwards will be doing everything in his power to get his team the win, his teammates don't seem to be playing up to his speed at some points. Unless Towns and Gobert can have perfect games in the interior, Denver should roll to a close win and take the lead here."

Nuggets-Timberwolves Game 5 odds, lines:

The Denver Nuggets are favorites to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves in Tuesday's Game 5 matchup, according to the BetMGM college basketball odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering sports betting promos in 2024.

Odds as of Monday evening.

  • Spread: Nuggets (-4.5)

  • Moneylines: Nuggets (-190); Timberwolves (+155)

  • Over/under: 205.5

How to watch Timberwolves vs. Nuggets, Game 5:

  • Time: 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT

  • Where: Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado

  • TV: TNT, truTV

  • Stream: Sling TV, fubo TV

Stream the game: Watch the 2024 NBA Playoffs with a Fubo subscription

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets: Predictions and odds for Game 5

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