NBA Playoffs 2023/24, 2nd round, Game 7, Sunday, 19.05.2024
It’s an incredible back and forth and possibly the highlight of the 2024 NBA play-offs. Not even the finals will be able to top the excitement that will prevail in this decisive Game 7.
Redeeming a no deposit free bet in combination with my Nuggets Timberwolves tip for the “Winner-Takes-it-All-Match” is also worthwhile because the game will start at a favorable time from a German perspective
It is an incredibly exciting and at the same time highly unusual series that is currently being played out between these two franchises.
The defending champions lost their first two home games in a place where they are considered almost unbeatable – only to then win the two away games in Minnesota.
The action then shifted back to Denver in Game 5, where the Nuggets took the lead for the first time thanks to a 40-point showing from Nikola Jokic.
After three wins in a row, many thought the Timberwolves’ resistance had been broken for good, but that was a misconception. MIN dominated Game 6 in an almost uncanny manner with a 115:70 victory!
Whoever inflicts a defeat with a 45-point difference on Jokic & Co less than 24 hours ago shouldn’t allow themselves to be duped in an all-or-nothing game now, should they? This is precisely the question that is on the minds of NBA fans and bookmakers alike.
However, the German bookmakers have already reached a verdict on the matter. According to their Nuggets Timberwolves odds of 1.50 to 2.60, the defending champions can be expected to bounce back successfully from this bloodcurdling defeat.
However, I personally expect the Wolves to have found the right tactical answers to the Serb in the last showdown to defeat the Nuggets once again tonight …
The Wolves had to come up with something new to stop Jokic, especially after his aforementioned 40-point showing a few days ago.
So they went back to basics – using Towns as the first line of defense and inserting Rudy Gobert wherever he was needed.
Jokic couldn’t threaten the Wolves as a scorer or by getting his teammates involved. He scored just 22 points, while Minnesota’s quick rotations closed down passing lanes and barely allowed his teammates any open shots.
That’s not a misprint: Jokic only had two assists, but he’s an excellent playmaker!
Also interesting: In the last three games, all won by Denver, the Nuggets hit over 50% of their shots. On Thursday, however, they were held to their playoff-low of 30% overall and 19.4% (7 of 36) on threes.
For the Wolves, this marked a return to their surreally good performance from Game 2, which was one of the best defensive performances by a team in recent playoff history.
However, the visitors also received support in the last game from players who don’t usually play as big a role up front as Anthony Edwards, for example, but who are important nonetheless.
The Wolves have become accustomed to Jaden McDaniels’ outstanding defensive effort, and Thursday was no different – he defended multiple players, helping to stop Porter (8 points) and at times Murray (10 points).
It’s an added bonus when McDaniels delivers so well offensively as well. Then the Wolves are particularly dangerous.
McDaniels recently hit 8 of 10 shots overall and 3 of 5 threes, which earned him 21 points. These numbers are definitely something to be proud of
If the defense is as solid again, Jokic is rendered harmless and McDaniels makes a positive appearance for the Wolves on both sides of the court again, then I would almost bet on MIN advancing to the next round.
With a sports betting app at hand, which has been thoroughly tested by my betting friends, the betting decision becomes a no-brainer.
Because with the aforementioned odds for a Timberwolves win, you can’t complain. 2.65 is a first-class offer against the background that Denver was already destroyed in basketball terms the day before yesterday.
Conclusion: The Nuggets were shown up the day before yesterday in a way I’ve never seen before.
The Timberwolves’ defense played at the same level as in the first two games of this series and is therefore unbeatable in this condition.
If the visitors leave everything tactically as it was in Game 6, I expect Denver to lose out again.
And even if that’s not the case, I certainly wouldn’t bet on Denver given the odds that unfairly favour the home side …
My tip: Win Timberwolves
