By Cbs Sports Staff

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets: Odds, Picks and Predictions for Game 1

By CBS Sports Staff

The third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves square off with the second-seeded Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Saturday night. The Nuggets are favored by 6.5 points in the latest Timberwolves vs. Nuggets odds from SportsLine.

Key Matchup

The key matchup in this game will be in the paint. The Timberwolves have one of the best young big men in the league in Karl-Anthony Towns, while the Nuggets have one of the best big men in the league, period, in Nikola Jokic.

Towns is averaging 24.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game this season. Jokic, who won the NBA's MVP award last season, is averaging 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game.

Whoever can control the paint will put their team in a good position to win this game.

Prediction

The Nuggets are the better team on paper, and they should be able to win this game at home. However, the Timberwolves are a young and hungry team that is capable of upsetting Denver.

For that reason, we recommend taking the Timberwolves +6.5 points on the spread.

Prediction: Timberwolves 105, Nuggets 103