The Warriors won Game 1 on Monday. Game 2 of this second series between the Warriors and Timberwolves will be in Minnesota on Thursday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Timberwolves are a 10.5-point favorite for Game 2 and this contest carries a total of 201 points.
Below, I dive into three of my favorite player prop bets for Thursday’s Game 2 between the Warriors and the Timberwolves on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best Warriors vs. Timberwolves Player Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Jimmy Butler O 6.5 Assists (-115)
With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out, Butler should be the Warriors’ primary playmaker in Game 2. With Curry exiting after only 12.5 minutes in Game 1, Butler finished with eight assists across 41 minutes in Golden State’s upset over Minnesota.
If we include this tilt, Butler has tallied at least eight assists in three of the four games he has played without Curry since joining the Warriors. With the guard off the floor, Butler’s assist rises 8.9 percentage points to a team-high 36.1%. He is averaging 7.3 assists per 36 minutes, which is a tentative projection, as Butler has logged over 40 minutes in three straight games. As you can see, 6.5 assists is just too low of a line for Butler sans Curry, and he is an excellent bet for this over Thursday.
Jaden McDaniels U 13.5 Points (-130)
McDaniels scored 12 points in Game 1 with a low 14% usage rate, and he has fallen short of 13.5 points in all but one of his five matchups with the Warriors this season. While Golden State loses their best offensive weapon with Curry sidelined, the sharpshooter’s absence makes the Warriors’ already elite defense even stronger. Golden State held the Timberwolves to only 88 points in Game 1 with Curry only available for 12.5 minutes. With Curry off the floor this season, Golden State’s defensive rating has been at an incredible 103.2. For some perspective, the Thunder lead the NBA with a 106.6 defensive rating in the regular season.
Evident from this contest’s low 201-point total on DraftKings Sportsbook, Game 2 should be a low scoring defensive battle and McDaniels exceeding 13.5 points in this environment is unlikely.
Julius Randle U 20.5 Points (-130)
Just like McDaniels, this 20.5-point line is too high for Randle facing the Curry-less Warriors. With the guard only available for 12.5 minutes in Game 1, Golden State’s defense limited Randle to 18 points.
The forward has faced the Warriors five times this season and Randle is averaging 16.2 PPG in those matchups, and he hasn’t surpassed 20.5 points in any of these games. Overall, Randle is shooting 37% from the field against Golden State. Expecting Randle to clear 20.5 points in this very low 201-point total is unreasonable, and he is a must-bet for this under.
