Steve Starr
- The Denver Nuggets are 6.5-point favorites versus the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves
- Nikola Jokic is a frontrunner to win his third-straight NBA MVP after averaging a triple-double this season
- The second game of the home-and-home tips off from the Ball Arena at 9:00 pm ET on Tuesday, February 7th
Nikola Jokic missed Sunday night’s game in Minnesota with hamstring tightness. The Western Conference-leading Nuggets also sat Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the 128-98 loss to the Timberwolves.
However, you can expect the reigning two-time NBA MVP and Murray to return for Tuesday’s rematch. Before we look at the odds for tonight’s game, check out our guide to betting on the 2023 NBA Finals and our tips for betting on the NBA.
Nuggets vs Timberwolves
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +6.5 (-110) | Ov 236.5 (-110) | |
| Denver Nuggets | -6.5 (-110) | Un 236.5 (-110) |
Home-and-home series
After securing a 128-10 victory over Atlanta on Saturday, Denver chose to rest four key players in Sunday’s loss to Minnesota. Head coach Mike Malone called the 22-hour-turnaround time between games “ridiculous.” His team will now be rested and motivated to win the second of the home-and-home on Tuesday night.
Comfortably leading the West, the Nuggets are tied with the Celtics for the most wins (37) in the NBA. Meanwhile, their opponent sits in seventh in the conference with a 29-27 record. The Timberwolves are looking to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in almost two decades.
Nikola Jokic this season:
⛏️ 24.8 PPG
⛏️ 11.3 RPG
⛏️ 10.1 APGHe's currently leading the NBA in total assists (465). pic.twitter.com/GKi4gMcWmF
— Yahoo Sports NBA (@YahooSportsNBA) February 6, 2023
Jokic’s dominance
Denver is 19-1 in their past 20 home games. Nikola Jokic registered his 18th triple-double of the season against the Hawks on Saturday. Squarely in the hunt for his third-straight NBA MVP, the Serbian big man has ridiculous per game averages of 24.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 10.1 assists. It’s always fun to see him go head-to-head with T-Wolves center Rudy Gobert, who was traded from the Jazz in the offseason.
Jokic’s running mate, Jamal Murray, scored a season-high 41 points against Atlanta before resting on Sunday. With the Nuggets’ top two players back in the lineup, Minnesota will have their hands full in the Mile High City.
Denver vs Minnesota
Denver is a 6.5-point home favorite over Minnesota on Tuesday night with the game’s over/under set at 236.5 points. The Nuggets are ranked No. 1 in the NBA in offensive efficiency and are the fourth-highest scoring team on home court.
Anthony Edwards was snubbed for next weekend’s All-Star Game. He’s a top-20 scorer in the league, averaging 24.7 points per game. Ant-Man has kept his Wolves in the thick of the playoff race. An impressive feat given that Karl Anthony-Towns has missed the majority of the year with a calf sprain.
Anthony Edwards reaction to not being named an all-star:
“I will next year, so, I ain’t trippin.” pic.twitter.com/G9Vh4p01E7
— Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) February 4, 2023
Best Bets
The Nuggets were not happy with the NBA’s scheduling last week. After resting their stars for load management reasons, they’ll prove a point against a Minnesota team that beat them by 30 on Sunday.
Look for Jokic to secure his fourth-consecutive triple double and his 10th in the last 12 games. Take Denver to cover the spread with the OVER on 236.5 total points.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
