Playoffs NBA: Suns vs Twolves Betting Odds and Picks

The Phoenix Suns had the Minnesota Timberwolves’ number during the regular season, but the Wolves looked like a very different club in beating the Suns in their Western Conference first-round playoff opener. Game 2 is Tuesday in the Twin Cities with Minnesota as a short favorite on the NBA odds

2024 NBA Playoffs Expert Analysis Phoenix vs Minnesota | MyBookie NBA

Where: Target Center
TV: TNT
Stream: TNT app
Radio: Tunein.com

Why Bet on Phoenix Suns?

The Suns were pounded in Game 1 at Minnesota, 120-95 on Saturday and to make matters worse lost guard Grayson Allen to a sprained ankle in the third quarter. Allen, having his best season, was driving at Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns before turning his ankle during a spin move. Allen did not return, and X-rays on his ankle were negative so maybe he can play Tuesday. Allen had just four points with five boards and two assists in 25 minutes.

Kevin Durant had 31 points and seven rebounds in a losing effort. It was KD’s first 30-point game since April 3. Durant moved into sole possession of 3rd for the most 25+ point games in NBA postseason history (127) after entering the night tied with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (trails only LeBron James & Michael Jordan. Durant was also responsible for five of the team’s 15 turnovers.

Devin Booker had 18 points and five assists. He was just 2-for-6 from deep but 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Booker entered the postseason with three straight games of 20 or more points. He has gotten to the line often for Phoenix as of late, ending the regular season with five or more made free throws in 11 straight contests.

Beal shot the ball efficiently, making 60% of his attempts from the field. With Allen injuring his ankle, Beal’s role will be of even greater importance if Allen can’t play.

Eric Gordon also would be more important if Allen sits and could move into the starting lineup. But Gordon was 0-for-5 from the field in 21 minutes in Game 1. Gordon has had no more than five points in a game since the start of April except for one when he scored 11 vs. the Clippers.

“I like Eric Gordon and I like the threat at any game he can go in,” Coach Frank Vogel said. “If he goes 0-for-5 tonight, he can go 5-for-5 in the next game, he is just that type of player.”

With the loss on Saturday, the Suns moved to 68-55 all-time in Round 1 games of the playoffs and 27-33 in Round 1 road games. The Suns dropped to 33-21 all-time in Game 1’s, including an 8-22 mark in Game 1’s on the road.

Bet Phoenix to Win
NBA Betting Odds Tonight

Playoffs Vegas Picks NBA Odds Subject to Change	SPREAD	MONEYLINE	TOTAL
Minnesota	-0.5	-130	O 53.5
Phoenix	+0.5	+107	U 53.5
NBA First Half Lines \| 2nd Half NBA Lines

Why Bet on Minnesota Timberwolves?

If the Timberwolves are going to win this series after going 0-3 against Phoenix in the regular season, they need All-Star guard Anthony Edwards to play better than he did against the Suns, who held him to just 14.3 points per game. In Saturday’s Game 1, Edwards delivered.

“Sometimes like in the past he’s had those runs lead to like a bad run, just trying to do too much,” Coach Chris Finch said. “But you can see the great growth for him in that he played under control.”

The shooting guard had a career-best playoff performance with 18 points and registered the highest plus-minus rating of anyone with a +28. His four steals also set a franchise playoff record for a bench player. He and Reid shifted the momentum and helped to erase the lead the Suns held after the first quarter.

“Those guys have been so big for us all year,” Finch said. “They have so much confidence no matter what role they’re playing or where we need them. We need those guys to produce, and tonight they did a great job.”

The T-Wolves bench outscored the Suns’ 41-18. Minnesota pounded the offensive glass for a 52-28 rebound edge. They had 13 offensive boards to just three for the Suns.

However, the Wolves did lose starting forward Kyle Anderson to a hip pointer, and his status for Tuesday is up in the air. Anderson came out less than two minutes into the second quarter after he had played five minutes off the bench. In the five minutes, Anderson made one shot and committed two fouls. Anderson played 79 games in the regular season for Minnesota, averaging 6.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game on 46% shooting.

Bet Minnesota to Win
NBA Betting Odds Tonight