APRIL 26, 2024 — Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our NBA playoff coverage here at Total Apex Sports. One of the games on tap from today’s slate features the Phoenix Suns squaring off against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Phoenix dominated the regular-season series 3-0, winning each game by an average of 15.7 points. In this series, however, Minnesota has been the dominant team, as they won Game 1 and Game 2 by an average of 18.5 points per contest.
With a must-win for Phoenix in this pivotal Game 3, which player props should you watch in this first-round matchup?
Phoenix Suns vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Preview
Kevin Durant is the key Suns player to watch for the home team. He currently has -102 odds of scoring more than 26.5 points and -118 odds of finishing with less than 26.5 points. How do Durant’s numbers compare to the estimated points total for this matchup? Let’s look at the tale of the tape to find out.
- Durant is averaging 27.0 points per contest during the regular season and playoffs.
- In five games against the Timberwolves this season, KD has averaged 23.4 points per contest.
- During the postseason, he is averaging 24.5 points per outing.
- Durant has played against Western Conference teams 49 times this season (including the playoffs). In those contests, he is averaging 26.7 points per outing.
- In 18 matchups against Northwest Division opponents, the Suns forward is averaging 28.4 points per game.
- Over his last 10 outings, Mobley has averaged 23.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest, exceeding the points total for this matchup three times during that stretch.
Prediction: Kevin Durant OVER 26.5 points
On the other side of this 3-vs-6 matchup, the key player to watch for the Timberwolves is Anthony Edwards. He currently has -105 odds of scoring more than 24.5 points and -115 odds of finishing with less than 24.5 points.
Here is a look at how his numbers stack up against the projected points total for this matchup.
- Edwards is averaging 25.9 points per contest during the regular season and playoffs.
- In five games against the Suns this season, Edwards has averaged 18.2 points per contest.
- During the postseason, he is averaging 24.0 points per outing.
- Edwards has played against Western Conference teams 52 times this season (including the playoffs). In those contests, he is averaging 25.4 points per outing.
- In 19 matchups against Pacific Division opponents, the Timberwolves guard is averaging 25.1 points per game.
- Over his last 10 outings, Edwards has averaged 24.3 points and 5.3 assists per contest, exceeding the points total for this matchup five times during that stretch.
Prediction: Anthony Edwards OVER 24.5 points
James Tillman’s Player Suns vs. Timberwolves Picks
- Player Prop Bet #1: Kevin Durant UNDER 26.5 points
- Player Prop Bet #2: Anthony Edwards OVER 24.5
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