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Minnesota Timberwolves Open as West Finals Favorite vs Dallas Mavericks

Originally posted on Minnesota Sports Fan
By Eric Strack | Last updated 5/20/24

It took a 15-point 2nd half comeback but the Minnesota Timberwolves found a way to dispose of the defending world champion Denver Nuggets on Sunday night, in game 7 of the west semifinals.

Anthony Edwards left his A-game in Minneapolis, meaning Karl-Anthony Towns, Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels had to pick up his superstar slack and lead the Wolves to their second ever western conference finals (first in 20 years). It’s a surreal moment in Minnesota sports history, especially given how far behind the fell early.

Minnesota Timberwolves open as favorites over the Dallas Mavericks

Now, there are only four teams still playing NBA basketball. The other team that has risen out of the west is the 5-seed Dallas Mavericks, led by Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic. Winner goes on to the NBA Finals, a series that the Minnesota Timberwolves have never played in.

And immediately following the end of Denver vs Minnesota game 7, the first western conference finals betting odds were released and the Timberwolves are four point favorites in game 1 (at Target Center) and strong favorites, at -165 (DraftKings) to win the series. At FanDuel, they’re -168 favorites.

West Finals Winner	DraftKings	FanDuel
Minnesota Timberwolves	-165	-168
Dallas Mavericks	+140	+136

Not only are the Minnesota Timberwolves moving on, but they’ve already defeated the team that was considered the best in the west. That doesn’t mean they are automatically in the NBA Finals but this isn’t 2004, when they were walking into an LA team led by Kobe and Shaq, the next NBA dynasty.

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic are no joke, but that Dallas team has not yet felt the clamps defensively that the Timberwolves are going to put on them. Clearly, that’s what the oddsmakers see too.

This article first appeared on Minnesota Sports Fan and was syndicated with permission.

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