Get the best Warriors vs. Timberwolves predictions ahead of Thursday's Game 2 showdown. Free NBA picks for May 8.
After a terrible Game 1 performance, Douglas Farmer goes in search of the positives for his beloved Timberwolves ahead of Game 2. The findings? Naz Reid and his ability to contribute secondary scoring.
The Minnesota Timberwolves may owe the basketball gods a thank you. The Timberwolves absolutely no-showed in Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors, getting routed at home, but with Steph Curry now out for at least the next three games due to a hamstring strain, Minnesota is still a heavy favorite to win this series.sidelined for a week. It would be easy to say Minnesota cannot possibly shoot 5-of-29 from deep again. It would be easy to sayBut that would ignore how often the Timberwolves lost to shorthanded and overmatched opponents this season. That would ignore that the Timberwolves shot 7-of-47 in their clinching game against the Lakers, now abysmal from deep in two games in a row. And that would ignore that Green went 2-of-5 in a Game 4 win last round, also hitting better than 50% of his 3s in three of his final seven regular-season games. Do not assume Minnesota will win easily now that Curry is sidelined for a week. But do assume Minnesota will win.Reid had more at stake this postseason than perhaps any other individual player. He is expected to turn down his player option for next season and seek out a new contract for perhaps as much as double his current $14 million this season. But in an offseason without a ton of cap space across the league, Reid needed to show he could be a key playoff contributor to justify that kind of payday. He is now shooting 48.3% from deep this postseason while averaging 12.8 points and four rebounds, all in fewer than 26 minutes per game. Suffice it to say, he has justified that coming contract. Reid will get that contract because of the mismatches he creates anytime he is on the court. Who do you put on a 6-foot-10 player that shoots nearly 50% from deep but has such quality handles that he regularly drives to the rim? Oh, and his wingspan is longer than 7-foot-3, for good measure. Golden State has no one to defend Reid. When Kevon Looney or Quinten Post was at center on Tuesday, Reid would seek them out to drive by them. One thing the Wolves did capitalize on last night was Naz Reid punishing the Looney or Post at the 5 lineups. It’s pretty clear they need to guard him with a wing.When anyone else was guarding Reid, he could spot up for an uncontested 3-pointer. At 6-foot-6, Draymond Green cannot bother Reid’s 3s. At 6-foot-7, neither can Jonathan Kuminga. This is how Reid went 3-of-7 from deep and 5-of-7 inside the arc for 19 points in Game 1, even when Minnesota had no other offensive pieces clicking. This is how he has cleared this prop in three of six postseason games, one of the exceptions coming by the hook and another coming because of uncharacteristic foul trouble. Look for Reid to make it four out of seven postseason games in Game 2.Including Reid’s 3-pointers prop is rather obvious. His shooting is what makes him an elite offensive piece, and he has cleared this prop in four of six postseason games, along with 49 out of 82 games in the regular season, not to mention 12 of the 19 games from March 1 to the end of the season, the stretch when Minnesota’s offense ranked No. 2 in the NBA.to score might surprise some people since Curry is out. Butler should take on more of the workload, right? Wrong. Butler continues to shy away from success in front of Minnesota crowds. He cannot skip these games like he did four out of six games in front of a Target Center audience since running away from a playoff team in 2018, but he can repeatedly turn down shots inside because Rudy Gobert looms. He did that over and over again in Game 1, and nothing about Curry’s absence will change that cowardice.Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet getsGame 1 closed with Minnesota favored by six points. While Golden State exceeded expectations and that would normally shorten the next game’s spread, Curry is worth at least these four points to the spread. Frankly, Curry is worth more than four points. Keeping this spread at -10.5 is a testament to playoff tensions. The total falling by nine points compared to Game 1 is partly a reflection of Curry’s absence and partly a reflection of Minnesota’s defense in Game 1.Minnesota has gone 9-5 ATS at home since Julius Randle returned to the lineup in the first days of March. Find more: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links. Douglas Farmer spends his days thinking about college football and his nights thinking about the NBA. His betting habits and coverage follow that same pattern. He covered Notre Dame football for various outlets from 2008 to 2024, most notably spending eight seasons as NBC Sports’ beat writer on the Irish. That was also when his gambling focus took off. Knowing there were veteran beat writers with three decades more experience than he had, Douglas found his niche by best recognizing Notre Dame’s standing in each year’s national landscape, a complex tapestry most easily understood and remembered via betting odds. In 2021, that interest created a freelance opportunity with Covers, a role that eventually led to Douglas joining the company full-time in 2023. In the fall, Douglas will place five or six dozen bets each week, a disproportionate amount via BetRivers because the operator tends to have lines slightly different than the rest of the market. The same can be said of Circa Sports’ futures markets. While Douglas is an avid NBA fan and covers the league throughout the year, the vast majority of his bets are on college football, because that is the biggest key to sports betting: Know what you do not know.May 7, 2025If you choose to make use of any information on this website including online sports betting services from any websites that may be featured on this website, we strongly recommend that you carefully check your local laws before doing so.It is your sole responsibility to understand your local laws and observe them strictly.Covers does not provide any advice or guidance as to the legality of online sports betting or other online gambling activities within your jurisdiction and you are responsible for complying with laws that are applicable to you in your relevant locality.Covers disclaims all liability associated with your use of this website and use of any information contained on it.As a condition of using this website, you agree to hold the owner of this website harmless from any claims arising from your use of any services on any third party website that may be featured by Covers.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NBA Playoffs: Warriors-Rockets and Timberwolves-Lakers Game 5 Matchups WednesdayWestern Conference Game 5 matchups with the Warriors and Timberwolves taking place Wednesday. Warriors face the Rockets and Timberwolves face the Lakers. The winners of these series will play each other in round 2. The Warriors are underdogs despite home-court advantage.
Read more »
Warriors vs Timberwolves Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tuesday's NBA Playoffs Game 1Get the best Warriors vs. Timberwolves predictions ahead of Tuesday's Game 1 clash. Free NBA picks and predictions for May 6.
Read more »
NBA reveals referee assignments for Timberwolves-Warriors Game 1Here's what you need to know about the three officials working the first game of the second round tonight in Minneapolis.
Read more »
Warriors-Timberwolves game 1 free livestream: Where to watch NBA Playoffs tonight, TV, scheduleThe Warriors play against the Timberwolves in game 1 of their NBA Playoff series tonight. Fans can watch this game for free.
Read more »
How to watch Timberwolves vs Warriors NBA Playoffs Game 1: Time, channel, live streamsAnthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves look to deliver another big NBA Playoffs victory on Tuesday night as they kick off a second-round series against the Golden State Warriors.
Read more »
Warriors vs. Timberwolves Game 1: Curry exits with hamstring injury but Butler, Hield spark Warriors winAnthony Edwards started 0-of-10 from the field, his Timberwolves teammates also were cold, and Minnesota trailed by 23 at one point.
Read more »