Category: NBA

Playoff basketball demands a higher level of intensity. The stakes are raised, which means every possession matters more, every game can swing a series and the focus on physicality has to be elevated.

If there’s a player on the Lakers who knows this and is capable of it better than most, it’s LeBron James.

At 41 years old, LeBron might not be the fastest player on the floor, but he is certainly one of the strongest. In this series against the Rockets, he has dominated Houston physically.

Offensively, he’s been targeting Alperen Şengün relentlessly. He’s constantly putting Şengün into actions, then either driving into the paint, putting pressure on the rim resulting in easy buckets for James, or open looks for his teammates.

Other Rockets have tried to test James, only to fail miserably. When Jae’Sean Tate tried his best Dillon Brooks impersonation, attempting to agitate LeBron, he pushed him away, got the ball at the top of the key and drilled a three over Şengün.

Thanks to LeBron embracing this physicality and being the one who bullies instead of the one getting picked on, the Lakers are now up 2-0 in this series.

After LA’s Game 2 win, head coach JJ Redick praised LeBron for his physical toughness.

“I thought he brought a level of physicality and he’s done it throughout his career that he’s just really comfortable playing that way and you see that whether it’s him on a back down or getting to the basket or drawing fouls that he forces you to match his physicality,” Redick said.

Throughout this series, LeBron has demonstrated he’s willing to do all the little things that impact winning and physicality is part of that.

He’s still out here making his rotations, crashing the defensive glass and initiating contact in the paint to generate calls.

With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves out, everyone has to step up, and LeBron’s comfortable in that situation. After all, he’s been dragging teams to playoff success since he was in his 20s.

Now, two decades later, he’s still doing it. The Lakers haven’t lost this postseason, and LeBron’s physicality is dominating a Rockets team that is younger, faster and more athletic.

Nothing LeBron does anymore should shock us, but somehow, he is doing it again. After a pair of games, it’s gone from a conversation about how the Lakers might extend their season and turned into the Rockets looking for a path to victory, with none to be found.

That’s the power of LeBron. He’s an unstoppable force that’s yet to meet an immovable object.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Two days after Mike Brown spent part of his postgame news conference standing by his rotation decision-making, with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench at the same time during two stretches of Game 2, the Knicks head coach reiterated his trust in any player on the court.

But he also acknowledged before the Knicks left Tarrytown for Atlanta on Wednesday that anything can change in the playoffs.

“First of all, anything’s open to discussion offensively, defensively,” Brown said when asked if he’d be comfortable making that same lineup decision again or if he’d like to limit it. “Maybe changing this defensively. Maybe changing that offensively. I’m comfortable with all of our guys playing, no matter who the five is out there. 

“But at the end of the day, just like offensively and defensively, I mean we changed both of those things halfway through the year. Anything can happen, and when you’re in the playoffs, everything should be on the table. But I do feel comfortable with what we’ve had.”

The first instance of Brunson and Towns on the bench at the same time occurred after Jordan Clarkson subbed in for Brunson between the first and second quarter, with Towns already on the bench from when he checked out with 2:48 left in the opening frame.

When the stretch with both out began, the Knicks led 32-23. By the time they entered again midway through the second quarter, that initial advantage had already been erased. The Knicks, at one point, had even trailed before rebuilding a five-point edge as the pair checked back in.

Then, Brown kept the pair off the court again for the final 1:50 of the third quarter and the opening 4:04 of the fourth. And while the Knicks still had a nine-point lead when Brunson and Towns checked back in with just under eight minutes remaining in the game, it had originally been a 12-point advantage.

The Knicks bench, outside of Mitchell Robinson, has struggled to produce for the opening two games of the series. That was only amplified when Brunson and Towns were on the bench together. But Brown’s trust still hasn’t wavered — at least for now.

CJ McCollum again dodged a chance to truly embrace the role as the Knicks villain in this series.

After dropping 32 points Monday and fielding “F–k you, CJ” chants from fans inside the Garden, McCollum downplayed it as a “hostile” environment after his performance that, as Hawks teammate Onyeka Okongwu said, “shut that Knicks crowd up.”

“It’s just fans booing you or cheering you on,” McCollum said Wednesday in Atlanta. “It’s really not that serious. I think when you look at it that way, it’s just a game. It’s fun to compete at the highest level. It’s fun to be recognized by people, but I don’t play for Spike Lee’s approval. I don’t play for Knicks fans’ approval. I don’t play for anybody’s approval. I play for my family, myself and God, so it’s just a game, at the end of the day.”

Thursday will mark the Hawks’ first home postseason game since 2023, and Okongwu expected it to be “very, very loud” at State Farm Arena.

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“Obviously, you know, Knicks fans are gonna be there as well, but I know ATL faithful will be there as well,” Okongwu said. “Excited for [Thursday] night.”

Backup Atlanta center Jock Landale was again ruled out with a right high ankle sprain.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been in complete control of their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors so far. They’ve cruised to stress-free wins in the first two games of this series, but anything can happen when the series shifts to a different venue.

“The series hasn’t even started yet until you go on the road,” Max Strus said after practice on Wednesday. “So we got to come in with an aggressive mindset, just like we treated games one and two, and play our best basketball.”

We’ll see what adjustments either team makes for Game 3. The Raptors decided to bench normal starting center Jakob Poeltl for the entirety of the second half of Game 2, opting to go small with the 6’7” Collin Murray-Boyles at center. At this point, it’d be surprising if they went back to Poeltl.

No matter who the Raptors decide to go with at center, the Cavs hope to get the version of Evan Mobley they did through the first two games of this series. He put up 25 points and eight assists in the win on Monday.

“He’s in a great, great, spot,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said on Wednesday. “Physically, this is probably the best I’ve seen him move in two years, just moving really well, and then just confidence…he’s kind of in a flow state right now, which equals super [aggressiveness]. I’m watching him go to the offensive board. It’s another level than it was in the regular season. He’s definitely turned it up.”

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (2-0) at Toronto Raptors (0-2)

Where: Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, ON

When: Thur., April 23 at 8 PM

TV: Prime Video

Point spread: Cavs -3

Cavs injury report: Thomas Bryant – QUESTIONABLE (calf)

Raptors injury report: Immanuel Quickley – QUESTIONABLE (hamstring)

Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Raptors expected starting lineup: Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles

Previous matchup: The Cavs secured a 2-0 lead with a 10-point victory.

Here’s a look at both teams’ regular-season impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Here are the NBA Playoff games for today, Apr. 22:

• Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons — 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
• Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder — 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Enjoy the games!

INDEPENDENCE — The Cleveland Cavaliers have taken a comfortable 2-0 lead in their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors despite not getting consistent help outside of their star players.

Max Strus’s 24 points in Game 1 account for nearly half of the team’s bench points through the first two games of the series. In Game 2, Cleveland’s bench was outscored 45-19 by the Raptors’ reserves.

The lack of bench production hasn’t hurt the Cavaliers so far this series. But according to head coach Kenny Atkinson, he believes that one player will help turn this around: Jaylon Tyson.

“I told him today he’s next up,” Atkinson said after practice on Wednesday. “Max had that big game, core four had their big games. [Next] it’s going to be Jaylon Tyson. I can almost guarantee that he’s going to have one of those games where he’s converting that offensive rebound, he’s getting into the half roll because they’re playing smaller.”

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Tyson has been the Cavs’ most pleasant surprise this series. The improvements he’s made as a three-point shooter and defender have allowed him to become a mainstay in the rotation. However, a toe injury at the end of the regular season took him out of the rhythm he was in. That’s difficult for someone heading into their first real postseason action.

The stats haven’t been impressive through two games this series. Tyson has just five points on 1-8 shooting in 26 total minutes. That hasn’t stopped his head coach from praising what he’s seen so far.

“I’d give him a B, B+ in what we’re asking him to do,” Atkinson said. “He’s got all this stuff he could do, and now you have to reduce your package, and then you have to be aware of who I’m on the court with. There’s another level of sacrifice, and he’s getting that.”

Games 3 and 4 will be challenges. Toronto is a tough environment to play in. The margins for Cleveland will be much smaller in the next two games than they were in the first two. They’ll need some of their role players to step up and make positive contributions. Atkinson is sure Tyson will answer the call.

“He’ll have a big game,” Atkinson said. “It’s just a matter of time. It’s really talking to these guys individually about the patience needed until we get there. But I’m loving what I’m seeing from him right now.”

The San Antonio Spurs are collecting the hardware after their strong 2025-26 regular season. On Wednesday, Keldon Johnson was named the Sixth Man of the Year.

This was Johnson’s second full season coming off the bench. He played all 82 games, averaging 23.3 minutes, 13.2 points, and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 51.9% from the field and 36.3% from three. He beat out Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tim Hardaway Jr. to win his first-ever Sixth Man of the Year award.

Johnson was the first-ever Spur to score at least 1,000 points off the bench in a single season. He scored 1,081 points off the bench this year, the second most in the NBA. He is the first Spur to win the award since Manu Ginobili did so in the 2007-08 season. He is the second Spur to win the award.

Johnson became the heart and soul of the team off the bench. He wrote an excellent piece in the Players’ Tribune about coming off the bench before the end of the season. He accepted the role with grace and has now been rewarded for it.

The now-Sixth Man of the Year will be needed more than ever as the Spurs are likely to be without Victor Wembanyama in Game Three against the Portland Trail Blazers, with the series tied 1-1.

Of all the superlatives that one can bestow on the Detroit Pistons this season, one of the most significant is the team’s resilience. The 60-win Pistons have experienced multiple-game losing streaks three times this season. When the team dropped four in a row in early March, you would have thought the roof was caving in on their season.

When a bunch of starters were out at the beginning of the season, the team stepped up. Whenever they would lose, they bounced back. When Cade Cunningham went down with a collapsed lung the team banded together. It’s just what these Pistons do. We shouldn’t expect anything different tonight in what is effectively a must-win game against the Orlando Magic.

Detroit is down 0-1 in the best-of-seven series, and doesn’t want to fly to Orlando facing a giant two-game deficit. We know Cade will step up. He tried to will his team to victory in Game 1, scoring 39 points while the rest of the team seemingly short-circuited. We need Jalen Duren to step up, one game after one of his worst showings of the season. We need JB Bickerstaff to step up and find the lineup combinations and matchups that unlock the offense and slow down Orlando, no offensive juggernaut.

The Pistons are looking to break an 11-game losing streak at home, the longest in the NBA. They have spent the entire season brushing aside old, embarrassing records. Tonight shouldn’t be any different. It can’t be.

Game Vitals

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: ESPN
Odds: Pistons -9.5

Projected Lineups

Detroit Pistons (0-1)
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Orlando Magic (1-0)
Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

The clock is ticking for potential 2026 NBA draft prospects. The early entry deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is Friday, April 24 and the draft lottery to determine the exact order of picks is less than a month away.

Most of the top players have already made their decisions known, although several have elected to enter college basketball's transfer portal and test the NBA draft waters to keep their options open within the NIL landscape. But artificial intelligence, like the various mock draft experts around the country, can already predict how the first round of this loaded draft class stacks up.

USA TODAY Sports once again queried the Microsoft Copilot chatbot for its version of a 2026 NBA mock draft based on information and analysis currently available on the internet, and it continued to have BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson of Kansas and Duke's Cameron Boozer as the top-three picks. But the order was slightly different than the most recent USA TODAY Sports NBA mock draft, and selections varied even more further down the draft order.

How the order settles is likely to depend on the pre-draft process if the current variety in mock drafts are to be believed. Here's Microsoft Copilot's latest 2026 NBA mock draft, as curated by USA TODAY Sports:

Who: Phoenix Suns @ Oklahoma City Thunder

When: 6:30pm Arizona Time

Where: Paycom Center — Oklahoma City, OK

Watch: ESPN

Listen: KMVP 98.7

Series Status: Thunder up 1-0

OKLAHOMA CITY — Game One for the Phoenix Suns in their first round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder was rough, to say the least. At the very, very beginning of the game, Phoenix showed a bit of hope, getting up 12-9, just for the Thunder to go on a 110-72 run the rest of the game. You read that right.

The Thunder completely shut down the Suns, forcing them to shoot a horrid 35% from the field and take 10 fewer shots than Oklahoma City, thanks to the Thunder’s offensive rebounding efforts. Dillon Brooks, Devin Booker, and Jalen Green took 66% of the team’s field goals and were inefficient in their efforts. Collin Gillespie was the only other Sun who took at least six shots. The likely MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, didn’t even have a great game for the Thunder. While he got to the line 17 times and hit 15 of his foul shots, he shot 28% from the field on 18 shots. Don’t count on the Finals MVP doing the same again in Game 2.

It’s going to take more than just the Suns shooting better from the field to even up the series tonight. The team is going to have to move the ball better. In Game 1, Phoenix had just 16 assists. Every game the team had 16 or fewer dimes this season, they lost.

Devin Booker and the team’s top scorers are not only going to need to have a herculean offensive performance to stop the defending champs from taking a 2-0 series lead, but the team also needs to play with connectivity. Bright Side is in Oklahoma to give you live coverage that you can find on X at @HoldenSherman1 and @BrightSideSun with exclusive media for tonight’s game.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

• Grayson Allen — QUESTIONABLE (Left Hamstring Strain)
• Jordan Goodwin — QUESTIONABLE (Left Calf Soreness)
• Mark Williams — QUESTIONABLE (Left Foot Stress Reaction)

Thunder

• Thomas Sorber — OUT (Torn Right ACL)

What to Watch For

Can the Suns play better on offense?

Phoenix had just three games this year in which they scored fewer than 85 points, and they lost all of them. Unsurprisingly, they got walloped when they did that in Game 1. The team plays best when they’re moving the ball and knocking down their threes. They did neither on Sunday.

Limiting turnoversand creating moreof them

Oklahoma City forced Phoenix into 17 turnovers in Game 1 and allowed just six. At one point, they went 19:14 of gameplay without committing a single one. OKC scored 34 points off turnovers while the Suns scored just two. Phoenix had just three steals in Game 1 after averaging nearly 10 a game in the regular season. Will the Suns be able to cause more raucous than they did on Sunday and manage the tenacious Oklahoma City defense?

Does Mark Williams make an impact if he returns?

Williams was out for game one after re-injuring the left foot that kept him out nearly a month at the end of the regular season. While he didn’t play a huge part in the team’s win over OKC in January, he had a 13-point, 14-rebound game against them back in November’s close loss and is the team’s best rebounder. How could his impact help the Suns on the glass?

Key to a Suns Win

Devin Booker

Plain and simple. It starts with him. For the Suns to have a chance to win games in the series, the five-time All-Star has to have performances reminiscent of his 2023 playoffs, where he averaged 34 points on 59% shooting from the field and 51% shooting from three in 11 games. If that doesn’t happen, the team has no shot to compete with the defending champs. The team with the best player usually wins playoff games, and Booker needs to severely outplay the Thunder’s best players because of the depth advantage OKC has.

If Booker has a strong game, he’ll need the rest of the team to help him space the floor and make his life easier to operate on offense, while forcing the Thunder into more turnovers.

Prediction

Look for the Suns to come out with a better performance than they did in Game 1. They were playing on short rest and now have had a legitimate break between games after being in two play-in games. That said, Oklahoma City’s defensive discipline and depth have given the Suns problems all year because of Phoenix’s lack of elite ball handlers and a paint presence. Give me the Thunder in a moderately close game that they start taking over in the second half.

Thunder 117, Suns 106

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Our NBA player prop projections are all set for tonight's Game 2 matchup between the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder, with the model flagging several high-value opportunities.

By breaking down the data and stacking it up against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges lie.

These Suns vs. Thunder predictions aren’t based on feel — they’re backed by the numbers.

If you’re building out your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Wednesday, April 22.

Suns vs Thunder computer picks for Game 2

Suns	Thunder
Brooks u17.5 points  -112	Gilgeous-Alexander o28.5 points -120
Booker o4.5 assists +120	Dort o1.5 threes -120
Green o2.5 threes +122	Hartenstein o8.5 rebounds +105

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Suns Game 2 computer picks

Dillon Brooks Under 17.5 points (-112)

Projection: 15.4 points

In terms of scoring efficiency, the Phoenix Suns have averaged just 102.6 points per game over their last five outings, the lowest mark in the league during that span.

On the other side, opposing starting power forwards have shot 46.3% from the field against the Oklahoma City Thunder this season, ranking among the toughest defensive matchups in the league. That combination sets up a challenging offensive environment for Dillon Brooks to produce at a high level.

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Devin Booker Over 4.5 assists (+120)

Projection: 5.4 assists

Devin Booker has been consistently clearing his playmaking mark, going over 4.5 assists in eight of his last ten games, and that trend has strong staying power heading into tonight’s matchup against the Thunder.

Another factor is offensive balance. Even in games where Booker is scoring efficiently, Phoenix’s offense tends to run through him in key possessions late in quarters and after timeouts. Those structured sets consistently give him at least a handful of assist opportunities just by being the hub of decision-making.

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Jalen Green Over 2.5 threes (+122)

Projection: 2.7 3-pointers

Jalen Green has been trending in and out from deep lately, clearing the 2.5 made threes line in four of his last ten games, and there’s still a workable path for him to hit that mark again tonight against OKC.

Green’s three-point volume is largely tied to how much defensive pressure he draws off the dribble. When he’s aggressive attacking the rim, defenses are forced to collapse, and that naturally opens up catch-and-shoot opportunities on the perimeter.

Even when his shot isn’t fully consistent night-to-night, his role as a primary perimeter scorer keeps the attempts flowing.

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Thunder Game 2 computer picks

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 28.5 points (-120)

Projection: 31.9 points

The Thunder have been one of the league’s most explosive offenses this season, ranking fifth in scoring, and much of that success runs through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who continues to anchor their attack night after night. That formula isn’t expected to change as OKC looks to take a 2-0 series lead tonight.

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Lu Dort Over 1.5 3-pointers (-120)

Projection: 1.6 3-pointers

The Thunder have been one of the league’s most aggressive perimeter offenses at home over their last 10 games, ranking fifth in three-point attempt rate, a setup that keeps Lu Dort in a strong position to capitalize from beyond the arc after hitting this 1.5 threes line in seven of his last ten games.

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Isaiah Hartenstein Over 8.5 rebounds (+105)

Projection: 9.3 rebounds

Isaiah Hartenstein has been steady on the glass lately, clearing his 8.5 rebounds line in six of his last ten games, and that profile fits well heading into tonight’s matchup against the Suns.

A big part of Hartenstein’s rebound value comes from role and positioning. He consistently plays close to the rim, which naturally keeps him in range for defensive boards and put-backs.

Even when he isn’t the focal point offensively, his minutes are tied to controlling the paint—boxing out, anchoring possessions, and finishing defensive stops.

span style="font-size: 14px;"🔥/span spanBet Hartenstein Now at bet365!/span

How to watch Suns vs Thunder Game 2

Location	Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date	Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Tip-off	9:30 p.m. ET
TV	ESPN

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It’s been two years since Bill Walton’s passing, but the basketball world is still finding new ways to honor him.

On Wednesday, the San Diego State men’s basketball team and Sports San Diego announced the creation of the “Bill Walton Classic,” a hoops showcase that’ll pay homage to the two-time NBA champion.

The event, which will be held in November at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, will be a college basketball doubleheader. The first matchup will feature UC San Diego and University of San Diego women’s teams. The second will be the SDSU men’s team vs. a to-be-determined opponent.

“Bill Walton was such a San Diego icon,” Aztecs coach Brian Dutcher said, “and with Chris Walton having played for the Aztecs, this event is really a family affair for us. We could not be prouder to be invited to honor Bill by competing in the inaugural National University Bill Walton Classic.”

Walton was born in La Mesa and later played for Helix High School, where he won multiple San Diego Section championships.

He went on to attend UCLA, before he was taken by the Trailblazers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft.

Walton was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.

“The Bill Walton Classic is meant to lift up our three Division I basketball programs, unite San Diego’s basketball community under one roof for an extraordinary evening, and pay tribute to a true San Diego legend and Hall of Famer — Bill Walton,” Sports San Diego CEO Mark Neville said Wednesday. “Nights like this remind us of what’s possible when this city comes together around the game.”

The event will take place on Nov. 6 — the day after Walton’s birthday.

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After both Game 1 and Game 2 reached clutch time, the only playoff series to induce such a stressor in both opening games, everyone should expect the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves to throw haymakers in every remaining game of this series.

Haymakers require superstars to show up in every way. This Nuggets vs. Timberwolves same-game parlay trusts Anthony Edwards to continue to fill the stat sheet in Game 3 on Thursday, April 23.

For more NBA picks, check out my complete Nuggets vs. Timberwolves predictions.

Our best Nuggets vs Timberwolves SGP for Game 3

Whether Anthony Edwards finds his shot or not, he can be trusted to continue to crash the glass. Edwards is just 5 of 20 from beyond the arc in this series, a direct reflection of the pained knee that cost him much of the last month of the regular season.

Whether it is rust or pain, Edwards’s shot is not in rhythm.

He's still playing plenty aggressively, though, grabbing 19 rebounds in the first two games of this series. Edwards has always stuffed the stat sheet in the postseason.

Counting the two games of these playoffs, he's now found at least six rebounds in 24 of his last 33 playoff games.

Ant's shot is not the only one in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ lineup impacted by a pained knee. Jaden McDaniels has gone 1-for-15 from beyond the arc in his last four games.

Yet he may get some added defensive focus in Game 3, given his pointed comments on every bad defender on the Denver Nuggets’ roster, also known as every player on the Nuggets’ roster in McDaniels’s opinion.

Less Edwards from beyond the arc and less McDaniels from beyond the arc should lead to only more Donte DiVincenzo from beyond the arc, particularly after going 4-for-7 from deep in Game 2 as he scored 16 points.

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The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves have now met three times in the last four postseasons, and Minnesota’s Game 2 upset made it clear this series should be every bit as intriguing and chaotic as the previous two.

My Nuggets vs. Timberwolves predictions and NBA picks anticipate a tense Game 3 on Thursday, April 23, but that tension underscores one player’s postseason habits.

Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from the Target Center in Minneapolis, with the game airing on Prime Video. 

Nuggets vs Timberwolves prediction

Who will win Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 3?

Nuggets: For every instinct there is to embrace the Timberwolves with a raucous crowd backing them, anyone who has paid attention to Minnesota this season — and, honestly, the last few seasons — knows it tends to get too full of itself when the headlines heap praise.

The Timberwolves came back from 19 points down in Game 2 and held on convincingly in the final minutes. The praise is deserved.

But no one should be shocked if Minnesota now offers an absolute letdown, something Denver will gladly take advantage of.

Nuggets vs Timberwolves best bet: Anthony Edwards Over 5.5 rebounds (-120)

Game 2 shifted when Anthony Edwards stopped relying on his jumpers and began driving into the paint. His knee is clearly in pain, but the greater issue may simply be that the Minnesota Timberwolves’ superstar is a bit rusty after missing all but three games in the season’s final month.

He went 5-of-20 from deep in the first two games of this series, and no one is foolish enough to give much credit for that to the Denver Nuggets’ defense. Edwards is simply not shooting well right now.

But he is playing thoroughly, as he always does in the postseason. He grabbed nine rebounds in Game 1 and then 10 in Game 2, fitting a long-time playoffs pattern.

As the Timberwolves reached the Western Conference Finals in each of the last two springs, Edwards crashed the glass more and more aggressively. Two years ago, he averaged 5.4 rebounds per game in the regular season; in the playoffs, that climbed to 7.0 while grabbing at least six boards in 10 of 16 games.

Last year, Edwards averaged 5.7 rebounds per game in the regular season; in the playoffs, that climbed to 7.8 while grabbing at least six rebounds in 12 of 15 games.

No one should be surprised that Edwards is finding the glass in the postseason. Hammer this prop until it reaches 7.0, if not 7.5.

Nuggets vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

Donte DiVincenzo received Anthony Edwards’s favorite compliment after Game 2. The Covers.comeditorial desk will probably publish that Edwards said DiVincenzo has “gorilla nuts.” Hitting 4-of-7 threes while scoring 16 points certainly earned that praise.

More pertinently, DiVincenzo has excelled with added rest this season. He has played four games on three days' rest, shooting 46.4% from deep in those chances. That may be a small sample size, but 13-of-28 from beyond the arc is rather notable.

The good news for Minnesota is that those shots should take 3-pointers away from Jaden McDaniels, whose deep shooting has fallen off a cliff late this season. He shot 29.5% from beyond the arc in March and then went 1-of-8 in two regular-season games in April. Worse yet, he went 0-of-7 from deep in the first two games of this series.

Nuggets vs Timberwolves SGP

• Anthony Edwards Over 5.5 rebounds
• Donte DiVincenzo Over 11.5 points
• Jaden McDaniels Under 1.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: A rested Jokic

Nikola Jokic found a lot of the front of the rim in Game 2’s second half. Playing 40 minutes in two games in three nights can have that exhausting effect.

But now Jokic has three days to recover, will be playing with more oxygen in the air, and is undoubtedly aggravated that Rudy Gobert got the better of him in Monday’s fourth quarter.

Game 3 should be a Jokic showcase, even if the game’s overall defense drastically improves thanks to the added day between games.

Nuggets vs Timberwolves SGP

• Anthony Edwards Over 5.5 rebounds
• Nikola Jokic Over 29.5 points
• Under 234

Nuggets vs Timberwolves odds for Game 3

• Spread: Nuggets -2 (-110) | Timberwolves +2 (-110)
• Moneyline: Nuggets -135 | Timberwolves +115
• Over/Under: Over 234 (-110) | Under 234 (-110)

Nuggets vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

Minnesota has hit the game total Under in 24 of its last 35 games at home (+11.90 Units / 31% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 3

Nuggets vs Timberwolves latest injuries

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