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Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns Picks, Predictions, Player Props & Injury Reports (Game 3)

Sascha Paruk

by Sascha Paruk in NBA Basketball

Updated Apr 28, 2024 · 12:55 PM PDT

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels smiles after scoring a basket
Apr 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) celebrates his basket against the Phoenix Suns in the fourth quarter during game two of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
  • Down 0-2, the Phoenix Suns are in desperate need of a win in Game 3 of their best-of-seven series with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night
  • The Suns were 2-0 at home against the T-Wolves in the regular season
  • Below, see the Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns odds, predictions, and player props for Game 3 on April 26

The #6 Phoenix Suns (49-35, 25-16 home, 35-47-2 ATS) return home for Game 3 of their best-of-seven first-round series with the #3 Minnesota Timberwolves (58-26, 26-15 away, 42-40-2 ATS) in a 2-0 hole. Given that no team has ever comeback from a 3-0 deficit in NBA history, tonight is a de facto must-win game for Kevin Durant and company.

Oddsmakers are optimistic that the Suns can make it a series, listing Phoenix as a five-point favorite in the T-Wolves vs Suns odds for Game 3. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:40 pm MT/10:40 pm ET at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ.

Timberwolves vs Suns Game 3 Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Minnesota Timberwolves +5 (-110) +164 Over 207.5 (-110)
Phoenix Suns -5 (-110) -198 Under 207.5 (-110)

The Suns are -198 favorites on the moneyline in Friday’s NBA odds with the Timberwolves +164 road underdogs to take a 3-0 lead. The game total is at just 207.5, which is four points lower than Game 2 (a 105-93 Minnesota win) and seven points lower than Game 1 (a 120-95 Minnesota win).

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Odds as of April 26 at Fanatics. Lock in the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code to bet on the 2024 NBA playoffs. 

The winner of the T-Wolves/Suns series will advance to face the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets in the NBA playoff bracket, which the defending-champion Nuggets currently lead 3-0.

T-Wolves Hold Suns Under 100 Again in Game 2

Minnesota’s league-best defense (108.4 D-Rating) has been as-advertised in the first two games of the series. The T-Wolves held the Suns to just 95 points on 44% shooting in Game 1 and 93 points on 44.9% shooting in Game 2. Minnesota has also generated 34 Phoenix turnovers through the first two games. The Suns were badly out-rebounded in Game 1 (52-28) but put in a much better effort on the glass in Game 2, finishing +2 on the boards (41-39).

YouTube video

Durant was solid in the lopsided Game 1 loss (33 points on 11-of-17 shooting) but was held to just 18 points on 6-of-15 from the floor in Game 2.

Anthony Edwards is averaging a team-high 24.0 PPG for the T-Wolves in the postseason while four other Minnesota players are between 14 and 17 PPG in what’s been a balanced attack.

Timberwolves vs Suns Game 3 Injury Reports

Both teams have one player listed as questionable on the injury reports for Game 3. On the Phoenix side, Grayson Allen (13.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.0 APG) is questionable with an ankle injury. Allen has been dreadfully ineffective in the first two games of the series, combining for just seven total points on 1-of-5 shooting in 42 minutes of action.

For Minnesota, Kyle Anderson (6.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.2 APG) is questionable with a hip injury. Anderson had two points in five minutes of Game 1 before missing the entirety of Game 2.

MIN vs PHX Player Props

Player Points Rebounds Assists Three-Pointers Made
Anthony Edwards (MIN) 24.5 (Ov -115 | Un -105) 5.5 (Ov +105 | Un -125) 5.5 (Ov -110 | Un -110) 2.5 (Ov -100 | Un -120)
Bradley Beal (PHX) 17.5 (Ov -120 | Un -100) 4.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) 5.5 (Ov -120 | Un -100) 1.5 (Ov -142 | Un +120)
Devin Booker (PHX) 25.5 (Ov -120 | Un -100) 4.5 (Ov +124 | Un -148) 6.5 (Ov +114 | Un -135) 2.5 (Ov -102 | Un -118)
Jaden McDaniels (MIN) 10.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102) 4.5 (Ov +130 | Un -155) OFF 1.5 (Ov +185 | Un -225)
Jusuf Nurkic (PHX) 9.5 (Ov -102 | Un -118) 11.5 (Ov -102 | Un -118) 3.5 (Ov -135 | Un +114) OFF
Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) 16.5 (Ov -142 | Un +120) 7.5 (Ov +114 | Un -135) 2.5 (Ov -108 | Un -112) 1.5 (Ov -122 | Un +102)
Kevin Durant (PHX) 26.5 (Ov -100 | Un -120) 6.5 (Ov -108 | Un -112) 3.5 (Ov -112 | Un -1108) 2.5 (Ov +142 | Un -170)
Mike Conley (MIN) 11.5 (Ov -125 | Un +105) 2.5 (Ov -130 | Un +110) 5.5 (Ov +110 | Un -130) 2.5 (Ov  +142 | Un -170)
Naz Reid (MIN) 9.5 (Ov -100 | Un -120) 4.5 (Ov -110 | Un -110) OFF 1.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (MIN) 8.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) 2.5 (Ov +120 | Un -142) 2.5 (Ov +154 | Un -185) 1.5 (Ov -105 | Un -115)
Rudy Gobert (MIN) 13.5 (Ov +102 | Un -122) 12.5 (Ov -105 | Un -115) OFF OFF

NBA player props from DraftKings Sportsbook on April 26.

The player props for Game 3 once again list Durant with a game-high point total of 26.5, followed closely by teammate Booker (25.5) and Minnesota’s Edwards (24.5). Rudy Gobert, the heavy favorite in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year odds, has the highest rebound total at 12.5, while Suns center Jusuf Nurkic is just behind him at 11.5. Gobert had 16 rebounds in Game 1 but just nine in Game 2 as Nurkic put in a much better effort under the basket. The Phoenix center pulled in 14 rebounds in Game 2 after being limited to just four in the series opener.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Phoenix Suns Prediction

The Suns were a perfect 3-0 against the T-Wolves in the regular season, including two wins at home. They were also slight -115 favorites to advance before the series began. But those odds have now faded to +320 after dropping Games 1 and 2, and I am fully sold on the T-Wolves being the superior team after watching the last 96 minutes of basketball.

There is a long history of teams coming home down 2-0 getting off to fast starts, which is why the first-half spread is listed at Suns -4, despite the spread for the full game being just five points. Minnesota, though, has a chance to put a dagger into the Suns tonight and, as the saying goes, “defense travels”. Minnesota’s solid perimeter defense coupled with Gobert’s unparallelled presence under the hoop will continue to give Phoenix problems, and with Grayson Allen’s key secondary scoring non-existent, I love the value on Minnesota to win Game 3 at +164.

MIN vs PHX picks:

  • Timberwolves moneyline (+164)
  • Booker under 25.5 points (-100)

 

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