A holiday nightcap offers up an enticing Western Conference showdown. The Timberwolves have been one of the more consistent squads in basketball. However, they’ll face a true test tonight against the rival Nuggets. Denver, led by the otherworldly Nikola Jokic, appears set for a deep postseason run. Still, this isn’t a one-man show. Jamal Murray is known for elevating his game in the biggest moments. Will we see the veteran go off to close out Christmas?
Denver enters tonight as 1.5-point favorites (-110) over Minnesota. The total is set at 238.5 points. Ahead of Thursday’s contest, here’s my favorite Jamal Murray prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Top Jamal Murray prop bet
Playing next to The Joker, Murray often flies under the radar. Still, he’s a vital piece for one of the association’s most dangerous clubs. Through 28 games, the guard is averaging 25.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists. He’s also notched pristine 50/46/89 shooting splits. It’s no surprise that the Nuggets have posted the NBA’s best offensive rating (125.7).
Murray and his teammates will face stiff opposition tonight in Minnesota. The Timberwolves have recorded a 112.6 defensive rating, fifth-best in all of basketball. On the wings, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels can make life difficult for any ball handler. Inside the paint, Rudy Gobert remains an elite rim protector. They’ve held four of their last five opponents to less than 110 points.
Still, it’s not as if Denver’s second-in-command has been struggling, recently. Over his previous ten outings, Murray has accounted for 27.1 points on 52% shooting. With all eyes on Jokic, there should be room for the Canadian to operate tonight. He’s been especially good from deep during that stretch, knocking down 54% of his three-point attempts.
With respect to Minnesota’s elite perimeter defense, Thursday presents a golden opportunity for Murray. The Nuggets are down three starters: Cam Johnson (knee), Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle). Young role players such as Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones will defer to Denver’s experienced scorers. Jokic is always a threat to drop 30, but there’s not much else after that.
Murray has found success in this matchup as of late. He’s produced 25.8 points per game over his previous five outings vs. Minnesota. Now, with little internal competition, he’s poised to take on an even larger workload on offense. Denver’s other star has a clear path towards 26+ points tonight.
