Suns vs Timberwolves Game 1 Picks, Odds | NBA Playoffs Prediction

Suns vs Timberwolves Game 1 Picks, Odds | NBA Playoffs Prediction

The 2024 NBA Playoffs begin with a jam packed 4-game slate this Saturday -- and the second matchup of the weekend we'll preview is Suns vs. Timberwolves Game 1, which is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The T-Wolves are 2-point favorites on the spread in Saturday's contest, while the total is set at over/under 214 total points at DraftKings.

Here's everything you need to know about Suns vs T-Wolves -- the latest betting odds, as well as our expert picks and prediction for the NBA Playoffs on Saturday, April 20. For more basketball action, check out our NBA odds.

Suns vs Timberwolves Odds

PHO @ MIN Odds

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Suns vs Timberwolves Picks & Prediction

The Timberwolves earned the three-seed in the West with a record of 56-26 this season – and nearly earned the one-seed, as they finished just one game behind Denver and Oklahoma City in a three-horse race to the finish line in the closing days of the regular season. 

However, despite their overwhelming success throughout the season, the oddsmakers at FanDuel still see the T-Wolves as short underdogs (+110) in the first round of the playoffs against the sixth-seeded Suns (-130) – despite Minnesota being tagged as a 2-point favorite in Game 1 on Saturday.

In my opinion though, the series price for this matchup is incredibly disrespectful to what the T-Wolves have accomplished this season – especially with Karl-Anthony Towns returning to Minnesota’s lineup recently.

The T-Wolves rank third in the NBA in net rating, only behind Boston and OKC, sporting the best defensive rating in the entire league behind Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner, Rudy Gobert – and they have bona fide superstar capable of going toe-to-toe in a slugfest with anybody in Anthony Edwards.

There’s no denying the fact that Phoenix can score with the league’s top contenders. The Suns finished the season ranked top-10 in both offensive rating and points per game – which is pretty impressive, considering they went significant chunks of the season without Bradley Beal and Devin Booker.

Push comes to shove though, the dominance of Minnesota’s defense far outweighs the prowess of Phoenix’s offense. And despite ranking 16th in offensive rating on the season, the T-Wolves shouldn’t have too much trouble generating points against the Suns’ 13th-ranked defense, especially at home, where Minnesota is 30-11 this season as opposed to 26-15 on the road.

The Suns have proven capable of beating anybody on any given night, and I expect them to win a few games in this series – but I worry about the overall chemistry of their lineup in an extended series scenario against a very good Minnesota team. Phoenix’s big-3 hasn’t played many games together, and ultimately, I believe the T-Wolves’ size and physicality will be too much for the Suns to overcome against a well-rested Minnesota squad in Game 1.

Pick: T-Wolves -2 (-110)

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Suns vs Timberwolves Game Time & TV Channel

Date: Saturday, April 20
Matchup: Pacific vs Northwest
Venue: Target Center
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Time-TV: ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET

Suns vs Timberwolves Betting Stats

3) Minnesota Timberwolves
(3rd Place, Northwest)

  • Odds to Win Finals: +1900
  • Odds to Win Conference: +1000
  • SU: 56-26
  • ATS: 41-41
  • O/U: 41-40-1
  • PPG: 113.0
  • OPPG: 106.5

6) Phoenix Suns
(2nd Place, Pacific)

  • Odds To Win Finals: +1900
  • Odds to Win Conference: +850
  • SU: 49-33
  • ATS: 36-46
  • O/U: 36-45-1
  • PPG: 116.2
  • OPPG: 113.2

NBA Playoffs Betting Resources