Three games ago, the defending champion Denver Nuggets looked like they were in trouble. The Nuggets flipped that script against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Nuggets are currently on the verge of advancing to the Western Conference Finals.
Denver was trailing 0-2 after losing two consecutive games at home, including a complete loss in Game 2. They won three more games after that, but they couldn't even decide, and the Nuggets were once again in a good position to advance to the NBA Finals. Nikola Jokic was key in Tuesday's Game 5 win, but most of the Nuggets' supporting cast played well as well.
Denver needs to win against Minnesota on Thursday to clinch the series. Here's the storyline, odds and staff selections for Thursday's Game 6 in Minneapolis.
All odds are from BetMGM. Find great ticket deals on StubHub.
2nd place Denver Nuggets vs. 3rd place Minnesota Timberwolves
How to watch: 8:30pm ET on ESPN
Series odds: Nuggets -500, Timberwolves +375
Nuggets lead the series 3-2
The Nuggets appear to have solved the puzzle for Minnesota that stumped them in the first two games. Aaron Gordon's increased ball-handling duties was a development few saw coming as a series-altering type of move, but it appears to have helped.
Gordon is raising the ball, taking on one of the responsibilities of Jamal Murray, who is nursing an injury. Murray is likely closer to full health now than he was in the first two games, when he totaled 9:00.32 from the field in Denver's second loss of this series at home. But a reduction in workload has also helped. Murray has been more efficient in the past three games, all of which were wins for Denver. He has 26 hits in 52 at bats over the last three games. He's not dominating games, but at least his bad shooting nights no longer hurt the Nuggets.
Gordon, on the other hand, has been efficient throughout the series, shooting 66 percent from the field. Gordon went 11-for-12 in Game 4 with 27 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. He had 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in Tuesday's Game 5 win.
Denver's turnaround in this series has been helped by Murray's better play and Gordon's high-level play, but of course Nikola Jokic remains the best player in the league. Jokic played what felt like a perfect basketball game, as seen in real life in Game 5 of the playoffs. He had 40 points on 15-of-22 shooting, 13 assists, and 7 rebounds, and somehow had zero turnovers. Whenever he was on the floor, he was the focal point of the offense. Minnesota may never find an answer for Jokic if he continues to play at that level.
Michael Porter Jr. had a big performance in the final game against the Los Angeles Lakers (22.8 points per game), but he has only scored in single digits three times in this series, including Game 5. Christian Braun stepped up, playing the full 28 minutes. Various stats and big plays. He had 10 points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two blocks while on the floor, making him a plus-11 for Denver. Jokic is great, but Denver has plenty of other good players, so there's no need for Porter Jr. to play well or for Murray to go.
A week ago, it looked like Minnesota was in complete control of this series. Now, the Timberwolves are looking for answers. Can Rudy Gobert protect Jokic? Will Anthony Edwards be able to get back on track after being held to 20 points or less in two of the last three games?
Mike Conley missed Game 5 with an Achilles tendon injury. The Timberwolves point guard wasn't a big scoring factor in his first four games, but he did have 31 assists against seven turnovers. Having Conley on the court is one way to improve Edwards' condition.
Minnesota has the advantage in Game 6, but it's a close one, and the Nuggets are clearly the favorites to win the series. What an improvement from seven days ago when the Nuggets won the series at +400.
Experts pick Nuggets over Timberwolves
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