The Nuggets and Timberwolves play Game 2 with Denver trailing 1-0 in the series. The Nuggets have to have better starts to their games. Head coach Mike Malone has said as much and basically called out his starters for not playing their best at the outset of games. Denver can ill afford to go down 0-2 in this series. They trailed at half in all five games of the Lakers series. However, they lead at half over Minnesota only to lose the lead and the game in second half. Denver needs to grab the early lead and control the pace. Nikola Jokic needs to start faster as well. He went 2-7 from the field in Game 1 in the first quarter. I expect Denver to be motivated and focused. The Nuggets have only lost back-to-back home games once this season. They should start fast enough to ensure that doesn't happen. We have a favorable number here only needing to lead by two. I think this is playable to -2 as well.