The 2024 Western Conference Finals tip off tonight in Minneapolis, with Anthony Edwards and the defensive-juggernaut Timberwolves hosting Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT).
Both these teams have elite scoring options, with Edwards and Doncic two MVP-caliber alphas and Irving and Karl-Anthony Towns playing upper-echelon offense right now. But top-notch defense has been what has really helped each of these teams to advance to the penultimate round.
Updated NBA championship odds, best bets:
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Sporting News’ BetMGM live betting blog will focus exclusively on this exciting Western Conference clash, providing live score updates, betting lines, odds, picks and advice.
Mavs vs. Timberwolves live score: Updated Game 1 highlights
Mavs vs. Timberwolves Game 1 score
Q1Q2Q3Q4FinalMavs Wolves
Mavs vs. Timberwolves Game 1 best bets
Luka Doncic points: OVER 28.5 (-110)
Last year, Nikola Jokic responded to not winning MVP by storming through the West on a 16-4 postseason run and winning MVP of both the Western Conference Finals and the NBA Finals. This time, it might be Luka Doncic’s turn to do the same.
Nobody averaged more points per game on the road this season than Luka’s 33.5. And Minnesota’s top-ranked defense only seemed to motivate him more, as he averaged a whopping 36.5 PPG over his two games against the Wolves.
Twenty-nine seems like a gift here. Doncic has scored 60 points over his past two games, he’s averaging 29.8 points per road game in the playoffs, and nobody on the Wolves can guard him.
Mavericks +4.5 at Wolves (-115)
The Western Conference semifinals proved that the Mavericks are better on the road than the Wolves are at home. Dallas stole Games 2 and 5 in Oklahoma City by a combined 21 points, led by Doncic and his combined 60 points, 21 rebounds, and 17 assists.
Doncic also benefits from having all-time clutch postseason player Kyrie Irving as a running mate, and multiple complementary scoring pieces around them like the emergent P.J. Washington and lob threats Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively.
Minnesota has a heck of a defense, but its offense has been inconsistent. Matching up against a Dallas defense that has grown by leaps and bounds since the start of the season, the Wolves should have trouble running away from the Mavs in Game 1. Four-and-a-half points seems like too many to give to a confident, gritty, Mavs team with scoring chops and rim protection. Consider betting on the underdogs to cover.
Mavs at Wolves: UNDER 207.5 (-110)
All signs point to the UNDER here. Both these squads just used up a bunch of energy to get past two of the best four teams in the league. Both teams also have elite defense, seemingly contesting every shot and making the lives of ball-handlers extremely difficult.
Don’t expect fireworks in this one. Denver set a blueprint for Dallas to follow: Blitz Anthony Edwards and force “the others” to come up big for the Wolves. Even in victory, Minnesota couldn’t reach 100 points in Game 7. Expect a hard-fought contest that leads to a much lower over/under ahead of Game 2.
Naz Reid points: OVER 9.5 (-120)
Reid has provided the Wolves with a much-needed spark off the bench multiple times this postseason, and he has scored in double-digits in three of Minnesota’s past four games. His activity alone is contagious, crashing the boards and hustling for loose balls to give his squad an effort advantage.
Big men with big energy and moxie tend to get rewarded by teammates, and Chris Finch and company know that Reid must continue to contribute in the scoring department for the Wolves to have any chance of making the NBA Finals.
Derrick Jones Jr. blocks: OVER 0.5 (-160)
You have to scroll way down the player prop offerings for this hidden gem, and don’t be discouraged by the juiced-up -160 once you find it. Jones Jr. has been playing crazy minutes for Dallas this postseason, and he should be an instrumental part of the Mavs’ containment strategy with Anthony Edwards.
DJJ also has such ridiculous hops that he’s more than capable of helping big men Gafford, Washington, and Lively if they need it on the block against Minnesota’s triple-tower threat. The veteran small forward has at least one rejection in three straight games and six blocks total during that span.
What channel is Timberwolves vs. Mavericks on today?
TV channel: TNTLive stream: Sling
Timberwolves vs. Mavericks will air on TNT in the United States and TSN 1/3/4/5 in Canada. U.S. viewers can also stream the game on Sling.
Timberwolves vs. Mavericks start time
Date: Wednesday, May 22Time: 8:30 p.m. ET | 7:30 p.m. CT
Timberwolves vs. Mavericks will tip off around 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 22. The game will be played at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
Timberwolves vs. Mavericks radio station
Radio channel: SiriusXM
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