The No. 3 seed in the Western Conference in the Minnesota Timberwolves has home-court advantage in the opening round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs as they play host to the Phoenix Suns and their "Big 3" of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker.
Here's a look at all of the betting information and series data you need to know before these two squads face off on the hardwood.
2024 NBA Playoff Previews
- Eastern Conference: No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 Miami Heat
- Eastern Conference: No. 2 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers
- Eastern Conference: No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 6 Indiana Pacers
- Eastern Conference: No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Orlando Magic
- Western Conference: No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 8 New Orleans Pelicans
- Western Conference: No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers
- Western Conference: No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns
- Western Conference: No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks
(Related Link) NBA Playoff Betting History: Key Trends, Tips
Minnesota Timberwolves Vs. Phoenix Suns Hub
Minnesota Timberwolves Vs. Phoenix Suns Series Schedule
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Arena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | April 20, 2024 | 3:30 p.m. | Target Center |
| Game 2 | April 23, 2024 | 7:30 p.m. | Target Center |
| Game 3 | April 26, 2024 | 10:30 p.m. | Footprint Center |
| Game 4 | April 28, 2024 | 9:30 p.m. | Footprint Center |
| Game 5 (If Necessary) | April 30, 2024 | TBD | Target Center |
| Game 6 (If Necessary) | May 2, 2024 | TBD | Footprint Center |
| Game 7 (If Necessary) | May 4, 2024 | TBD | Target Center |
Minnesota Timberwolves Vs. Phoenix Suns Series Winner Odds
| Team | Moneyline |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +100 |
| Phoenix Suns | -118 |
Of the four series matchups set in stone prior to the play-in tournament kicking off, the Timberwolves are one of only two teams (Los Angeles Clippers) entering their series as an underdog despite being the higher seed.
Minnesota Timberwolves Vs. Phoenix Suns Series Total Games Odds
| Total Games | Odds |
|---|---|
| 6 Games | +190 |
| 7 Games | +230 |
| 5 Games | +240 |
| 4 Games | +490 |
Minnesota has won a grand total of four playoff games across three series since 2005. The franchise has qualified each of the last two seasons, but maxed out by winning a pair of games against the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022 before bowing out in the opening round.
The Suns have competed in the playoffs each of the last three seasons, advancing past the first round each time. Of the eight rounds they've participated in, more than half (five in total) went six games.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Phoenix Suns Series Prediction Odds
| Series Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Timberwolves 4-0 | +1200 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 | +550 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 | +650 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves 4-3 | +460 |
| Phoenix Suns 4-0 | +900 |
| Phoenix Suns 4-1 | +600 |
| Phoenix Suns 4-2 | +360 |
| Phoenix Suns 4-3 | +650 |
Oddsmakers don't envision this series ending swiftly and abruptly. The strongest odds lean towards Phoenix closing out Minnesota in six games at +360, followed by the Timberwolves emerging victorious in a Game 7 finale at +460.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Phoenix Suns 2023-24 Season Series (Suns 3-0)
| Date | Result | Leading Scorer |
|---|---|---|
| April 14, 2024 | 125-106 Suns | Bradley Beal, Suns (36 Points) |
| April 5, 2024 | 97-87 Suns | Grayson Allen, Suns (23 Points) |
| Nov. 15, 2023 | 133-115 Suns | Kevin Durant/Devin Booker, Suns (31 Points) |
The Suns won all three games against the Timberwolves during the regular season by double digits. The Utah Jazz are the only other team coming out of the West that Phoenix swept the season series against.
Minnesota Timberwolves Vs. Phoenix Suns 2023-24 Spread History
| Date | Spread (Timberwolves) | Spread (Suns) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 14, 2024 | -2.5 | +2.5 | Suns Cover (Underdogs) |
| April 5, 2024 | +4.5 | -4.5 | Suns Cover (Favorites) |
| Nov. 15, 2023 | +4 | -4 | Suns Cover (Favorites) |
Phoenix covered on all three occasions as both a favorite and underdog. It was 40-21 SU on the season when entering as a favorite, but covered the spread just 42.4 percent of the time with a record of 25-34-2 ATS. The Timberwolves performed amicably covering as an underdog, going 11-9 ATS but failing to cover in their last two games under such criteria in the month of April.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Phoenix Suns 2023-24 OVER/UNDER History
| Date | Score | O/U Total | Final Total | O/U Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 14, 2024 | 125-106 | 217.15 | 231 | OVER |
| April 5, 2024 | 97-87 | 216.5 | 184 | UNDER |
| Nov. 15, 2023 | 133-115 | 223 | 248 | OVER |
At least bettors weren't soaked in sweat and filled with anxiety-induced thoughts wondering whether or not the OVER or UNDER would hit, as the total was never really in question regardless of which way you were leaning on each night.
Minnesota went OVER with a 41-40-1 record overall, while the Suns were worse with far more UNDERs at 36-46-0.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Phoenix Suns Top Scorer Odds
| Player | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | +170 |
| Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns | +210 |
| Kevin Durant | Phoenix Suns | +260 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | +850 |
| Bradley Beal | Phoenix Suns | +2400 |
| Rudy Gobert | Minnesota Timberwolves | +6500 |
| Grayson Allen | Phoenix Suns | +6500 |
| Naz Reid | Minnesota Timberwolves | +12000 |
Minnesota Timberwolves Player To Watch: Karl-Anthony Towns
| Games (vs. Suns) | PTS | FG% | 3P% | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 17.5 | 52 | 12.5 | 6.5 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Karl-Anthony Towns just recently returned to the lineup for the final two games of the season, and while he didn't look to be in All-Star form, that's to be expected following an 18-game hiatus due to meniscus surgery.
He was averaging 19 points and 8.8 rebounds in six games since the break prior to going down, and is the closest thing Minnesota has to a high-octane scorer not named Anthony Edwards.
Phoenix Suns Player To Watch: Bradley Beal
| Games (vs. Timberwolves) | PTS | FG% | 3P% | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 25.0 | 66.7 | 88.9 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 |
Statistically, Bradley Beal was the Suns' most efficient and effective player when playing Minnesota. He just recently scored 36 points while converting a perfect 6-of-6 from the perimeter in Phoenix's victory on April 14.
Beal is often viewed as third on the totem pole that is the Suns' star-studded lineup, which is insanely dangerous now that he's healthy. His latest 36-point performance marked the sixth time all season Beal had reached the 30-point plateau.
Minnesota Timberwolves Vs. Phoenix Suns Odds To Win Western Conference
| Team | Odds To Win West |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +1000 |
| Phoenix Suns | +850 |
The Timberwolves only having 10-to-1 odds to come out of the West is peculiar considering they were in a dogfight atop the conference for the better part of the season, and only lost out on the No. 1 seed on the final day. The Suns aren't that much better at +850, mind you, with four other teams ahead of them in the odds.
Minnesota Timberwolves Vs. Phoenix Suns Odds To Win NBA Championship
| Team | Odds To Win NBA Finals |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +1900 |
| Phoenix Suns | +1900 |
Identical +1900 odds has both Minnesota and Phoenix with the eighth-best odds to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy come June. The Timberwolves have seen a giant leap in odds since opening night, though, when they were listed at just +5500. The Suns, on the other hand, have seen a dramatic drop off after opening at +600.
Expert Prediction: Phoenix Suns (-118), Phoenix Suns Win series 4-2 (+360)
Regular season disappointments aside, the Suns organization assembled this Avengers-esque lineup for moments like this. Failing to advance would be a monster kick to the gut, despite only barely avoiding the play-in tournament to even reach this point.
Minnesota's defense was unquestionably the elite of the elite across the Association, yet it will still have issues containing Phoenix's weapons on the perimeter. As formidable a low-post defender as Rudy Gobert is, his lateral quickness and ability to switch will be put to work having to get out of his comfort zone to contest shots. That's not even taking into account role players like Grayson Allen, Eric Gordon, and Royce O'Neale who are all capable of torching Minnesota from deep.
There's undoubtedly more pressure on the Suns' end to pull out a series win here. Edwards and company will have their time to shine, but this is a horrible matchup on paper for the Timberwolves. The writing will be on the wall when Phoenix sneaks out one of the first two games at the Target Center to set the tone.
