Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Game 3 Preview, Picks & Odds for Thursday April 23, 2026

By Braxton Reynolds | Apr 23, 2026, 6:00pm

Game 3 between the Denver Nuggets (1-1) and Minnesota Timberwolves (1-1) is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Eastern on Amazon Prime. Peyton Watson remains sidelined, and Aaron Gordon is also out due to a calf injury.

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Betting Analysis

Rudy Gobert’s defense flipped the outcome of Game 2 because he was mainly responsible for holding Nikola Jokic to two points on seven field goal attempts during the fourth quarter. If Gobert continues to contest Jokic’s shots without fouling, then it’s anyone’s series.

Donte DiVincenzo has also been key. His three-point shooting and passing alter how Denver’s defense is allowed to operate, and he’s also playing quality defense. Through two games, Minnesota has scored 118.8 points per 100 possessions with DiVincenzo on the court (62 minutes) compared to 95.7 points per 100 possessions without him (34 minutes).

Minnesota’s physicality and energy were also huge factors. Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon looked gassed in the fourth quarter, and Nuggets head coach David Adelman said the following about second-chance points during his post-game interview: “We lost this game with second-chance points. Every time we had control of this game we gave up a free throw, a rebound, a really soft crash from the corner…In a hard-fought game like that where you work so hard to get a stop and then just give up second-chance points it kept them in the game.”

Denver’s thin bench has led to the starters playing a couple more minutes than they should, and it adds up across a series and entire playoff run. Peyton Watson’s return is crucial because he gives Denver a different defensive archetype while allowing starters to rest more. Gordon returning is also essential.

The best bet for Game 3 is taking Jokic to make at least two triples. He shot 31.9% from deep during the regular season after returning from injury, and he is at 21.4% through two playoff games. However, Jokic attempted seven triples in Game 1 and Game 2, which is enough volume to offset his extended cold streak. He’s also getting great looks because Gobert is not pressing him too hard at the arc.

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Nikola Jokic O1.5 3PM (-108)
Score Prediction: Timberwolves 116, Nuggets 113

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Game Odds

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Game Information

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Network: APVO
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Venue: Target Center – 225.9 ppg; 14-27 O/U
Series Score: Tied 1-1

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Betting Resources

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Key Players

Nuggets

Nikola Jokic – Last Game: 24 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists
Jamal Murray – Last Game: 30 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists
Aaron Gordon – Last Game: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists

Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards – Last Game: 30 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists
Julius Randle – Last Game: 24 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists
Jaden McDaniels – Last Game: 14 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists

Braxton Reynolds

Braxton has been covering the NBA for Lineups since the 2022 season. He's worked with multiple collegiate coaching staffs regarding analytics and scouting, which has allowed him to understand the game on a deeper level. Braxton also currently writes about the Oklahoma City Thunder for Thunder Roundtable.