Three straight wins have the Timberwolves on the cusp of two straight Western Conference Finals appearances. On Monday, they received a combined 61 points from the dynamic duo of Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. Now, Minnesota will attempt to close out the series at home tonight.
The Warriors, even with Stephen Curry injured, still have plenty of firepower. Unfortunately, the team has scored more than 100 points only once during this series. Can Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green save Golden State’s season on Wednesday?
Ahead of Game 5, here are three player props catching my eye on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Brandin Podziemski over 2.5 assists (-135)
Without Stephen Curry, Golden State has looked like a shell of itself. It’s not exactly a surprise that any team would struggle while the greatest shooter of all time is sidelined. Still, that’s not an excuse for several Warriors failing to step up in this series. That includes Brandin Podziemski, who has looked overmatched against a tenacious Timberwolves defense. Over his last four games, the guard has averaged 7.5 points, 3.0 assists and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 22.5% from the field.
Abysmal efficiency isn’t something to overlook, but Podziemski isn’t this bad on offense. Credit to Minnesota, but the guard is due for a better performance going forward. Rather than as a scorer, the 22-year-old could look to serve as a playmaker tonight. In ten of 13 games played without Curry this season, Podz has recorded at least three assists. Having played 30+ minutes every game this series, the second-year pro should have enough time to make his mark as a passer.
Donte DiVincenzo over 8.5 points (-105)
The Timberwolves may be in control of this series, but they have a few struggling shooters of their own. Donte DiVincenzo, acquired last offseason in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, has had his ups and downs in Minnesota. At his best, the guard is a lethal weapon off the bench for head coach Chris Finch. At his worst, it’s difficult to justify leaving the Villanova alum on the floor. Unfortunately for the Wolves, this postseason has been more of the latter for DDV. Through nine postseason games, he’s posted 7.4 points on 30.0% shooting (23.1 3PT%).
Obviously, those numbers are atrocious. Still, there’s a reason Finch has played DiVincenzo 24+ minutes in all but nine playoff games so far. The sharpshooter is bound to get into a rhythm sooner rather than later, so why not in Game 5? Donte has taken a total of 30 field goal attempts in this series, connecting on only nine shots. Still, despite his cold streak, DDV has reached nine points in two of his previous four outings. Slightly better shooting luck would give the veteran a solid chance at reaching double-digits tonight.
Gary Payton Jr. under 5.5 points (-125)
In recent years, the Warriors have transitioned from a high-octane offense into a defensive-first unit. One of the players most emblematic of this roster shift is Gary Payton II. The guard isn’t much of a scorer, averaging 5.5 points per game over nine years in the NBA. However, elite ball-hawking skills have ensured a prominent role off the bench for GPII.
Payton II started the Western Conference semifinals off strong, scoring eight points in a Game 1 victory. Since then, he’s compiled a combined five points during his last three appearances. Part of what makes it tough to back the guard is due to variation in his workload. Kerr has given the veteran as many as 25 minutes and as few as 11 minutes this postseason. Payton II has scored more than five points in four of 12 games played this season without Steph Curry. Given how ugly Golden State has looked, it’s difficult to trust an offensively-limited player.
