Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors
After last night’s slate of Eastern Conference games, tonight’s three contests are all Game 3's in the Western Conference.
The Grizzlies will be looking to steal a home game from the T-Wolves the same way Anthony Edwards did for Minnesota in Game 1. Denver will look to bounce back and win their first game of the series at home after losing each of their first two games to the Warriors by 15+ points. Finally, Luka Doncic is a game-time decision tonight as Dallas looks to win at least one of two games in Utah.
Best Bets of the Night
Game: Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves +2 (Series Tied 1-1)
For the T-Wolves to beat the Grizzlies in this series, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards need to consistently produce All-Star caliber performances. While they played phenomenally in Game 1, both KAT and Edwards underperformed in Game 2. Neither player scored more than 20 points in Game 2. As a team, the T-Wolves were held to 96 points to Memphis’ 124. Towns and Edwards should have bounce-back games at home tonight, as the T-Wolves look to shock the world and defend their home court against the second-seeded Grizzlies.
The Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves ML +110
Game: Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz -7.5 (Series Tied 1-1)
Even if Luka Doncic ends up being inactive for the Mavs in Game 3, Dallas has played great basketball without him in the first two games of the series. In Game 1, the Mavericks only lost by six points after keeping it close the entire game. In Game 2, Jalen Brunson’s career-high 41 points led Dallas to a 110-104 victory. Even though Dallas is on the road for the next two games and Luka remains questionable, the Mavericks will compete tonight and lose by no less than seven points. If Luka is activated last minute, Dallas has a good chance to win Game 3 on the road. Keep an eye on the spread as that number may drop if Doncic is activated.
The Pick: Dallas Mavericks -7.5
Game: Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets +2.5 (GSW Leads 2-0)
Golden State’s offense throughout the regular season, and especially through the first two games of the postseason, has been spectacular. Between Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson, and Stephen Curry, the sky's the limit for how many three-pointers they can collectively convert. In Game 1, the trio combined for 55 points (16 points for Curry) while they combined for a whopping 84 points in Game 2.
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While I would hope that Denver finds some answers to contain Golden State after two 15+ point deficits to begin the playoffs, it seems unlikely. Denver's defense simply doesn't have any answers and will continue to struggle to contain Golden State's high-octane offense. Even though the Nuggets are at home and are in desperate need of a win, the Warriors are too overwhelming on both ends of the court.
The Pick: Golden State Warriors -2.5
NBA Player Props of the Night
Game: Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets +2.5
Prop: Stephen Curry, Over 24.5 Points
Stephen Curry scored 34 points (12-17 FG) in Game 2 despite playing just 23 minutes off the bench. He needed a game like this after returning from an injury in Game 1 when he only scored 16 points (5-13 FG). A healthy Stephen Curry in the postseason should have another 30+ point night in Game 3.
Prop: Monte Morris, Over 11.5 Points
As the Nuggets slipped into Garbage time by the fourth quarter of Game 2, Morris only played 25 minutes and finished with 12 points (5-8 FG). Without Jamal Murray, Morris has become the Nuggets' primary ball-handler. As a first-time starting point guard for the Nuggets this season, Morris was an efficient scorer, producing 12.6 PPG on 48.4% shooting from the field. If he plays 30+ minutes and the Nuggets aren’t blown out like they were in the first two games of the series, Morris should score at least 12 points in Game 3 tonight at home.
