Timberwolves vs Warriors Can Well-Rested Minnesota Seize Game 1? (May 6)

• The Minnesota Timberwolves finished with the No. 6 seed, but made quick work of the Los Angeles Lakers in the opening round of the postseason.
• Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors needed seven games to top a Houston Rockets team that finished with the second-best record in the Western Conference.
• These squads last played on Jan. 15, with the Warriors claiming a 116-115 victory.

One of the games on Tuesday’s NBA slate features the Minnesota Timberwolves hosting the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of a second-round Western Conference playoff series. Will Minnesota win its fourth straight playoff game in our Timberwolves vs Warriors pick?

Timberwolves Coming Off 4-1 Series Win Over Lakers

After splitting the first two games against the Lakers in the opening round, the Timberwolves closed out the series with three straight wins.

In the series finale, Rudy Gobert had a memorable night, to say the least. He led the way with 27 points, 24 rebounds (including nine on the offensive glass), and two blocked shots.

Julius Randle added 23 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Although Anthony Edwards did not have a great shooting night (5-19 FG, 0-11 3PT), he finished two assists shy of a triple-double with 15 points, 11 boards, and eight dimes.

Minnesota upended the Lakers despite shooting 7-for-47 from 3-point range, which included a stretch in which it missed 17 consecutive shots from long range.

Warriors Aim To Steal Another Game 1 In This Semifinal Matchup

On the other side of the matchup, the Warriors took a 3-1 lead in their series against the Houston Rockets. But back-to-back losses, forced a Game 7 on the Rockets’ home court.

Showing their championship grit, the Warriors bounced back from consecutive losses to pull off a 103-89 road win. Buddy Hield torched Houston’s defense with 33 points on 12-for-15 shooting overall and an uber-efficient 9-for-11 effort from beyond the arc.

Stephen Curry, who scored just three points in the first half, finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Jimmy Butler III scored 20 points, collected eight rebounds, and handed out seven assists.

After trailing by 12 points at the break, the Rockets trimmed the deficit to eight points heading into the final frame. Following a 7-2 spurt that restored Golden State’s 12-point advantage, Curry and Hield knocked down back-to-back 3-point shots, increasing the lead to 94-74 with 2:31 remaining.

The Warriors are the seventh No. 7 seed to advance to the semifinal round.

Timberwolves vs Warriors Pick: Which Squad Lands The First Punch In The Opener?

Following a five-game series win in the opening round, Minnesota enters this matchup as a 7.5-point favorite, according to BetOnline. Here are a few betting trends for both sides heading into Game 1.

• The Timberwolves are 9-1 straight-up (SU) in their last 10 games against Western Conference teams.
• Minnesota is 6-1 against the spread in its previous seven outings against Pacific Division opponents.
• The Warriors are 12-6 in their last 18 contests.
• Golden State is 16-4 ATS in its previous 20 Tuesday night matchups.

The Warriors won three of the four regular-season matchups between the franchises. But look for the well-rested Timberwolves to strike first in the series opener.