3* Rotation #529 NBA 3* Minnesota Timberwolves +165 @ Denver Nuggets @ 7 ET - No points needed. The Timberwolves spring the upset here in Game 1. From watching these two teams so far in this post-season, the Wolves are a much stronger team than we saw last season while the Nuggets - though certainly strong - are not at the same level of the team that won the Championship last season. I am not saying Denver will not ultimately prevail in this series but I am saying the Wolves are poised to surprise them early in this series and they steal Game 1 on the road. Why would Denver only be laying 4.5 points here? Exactly! This one set up to be a shocker. It is an invitation to lay a short number with a Nuggets team known for playing well at home. I am not falling for the trap and, in fact, not even grabbing the points as they will not be needed. There is justification for this as 6 of last 7 Minnesota losses have been by at least 8 points so having the points unlikely to help us here. The Nuggets 45 of last 52 wins by at least 5 points. The Timberwolves have won 7 of last 9 road games. I look for the Wolves to hold an edge with their big men as Gobert can give Jokic some trouble here plus they have Towns and then Reid off the bench. Also, who does Denver have to slow down Edwards? The fact is the Nuggets struggled much more than expected with a Lakers team that barely even got into the post-season. Lakers won one game and two others were decided by just a bucket! Now the Nuggets face a much tougher test and the Wolves dominated the Suns quite consistently in their 4-game sweep. Again, just do not need points here the way I see it as the first game is the one that the rested and confident Wolves can spring the upset. 3* MINNESOTA +165