The NBA playoffs resume tonight with Game 2 between the Timberwolves vs. Thunder. Tuesday saw Oklahoma City mount an impressive comeback in the second half to take a 1-0 series lead. Now, the question is how Anthony Edwards and the Wolves will respond. What can we expect from OKC and Minnesota in Thursday’s pivotal Western Conference Finals showdown?
Before the start of tonight’s contest, get in on the action with DraftKings NBA Pick6 fantasy basketball!
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander more than 5.5 rebounds
It’s been quite the week for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. On top of a Game 1 victory, Oklahoma City’s face of the franchise earned his first career MVP award. When looking at his season-long numbers, it’s easy to see why: 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists over 76 games played. In Game 1, the Thunder leaned on their point guard en route to a 31-point, nine-assist performance against the Timberwolves.
At this point in the postseason, there’s no safer pick in the association than SGA. However, while the Canadian is a gifted scorer, he’s also one of basketball’s best rebounding guards. The All-Star has snagged at least six boards in five of his last eight meetings with Minnesota. Given how poorly Rudy Gobert played Game 1, there’s a good chance the Wolves run a small-ball lineup tonight. If that’s the case, Gilgeous-Alexander is poised for a productive evening on the glass.
Anthony Edwards more than 23.5 points
Game 1 was one to forget for Anthony Edwards. The 23-year-old shot 5-of-13 from the field, scoring just 18 points in a Timberwolves defeat. As good as Ant-Man is, he’s had his share of clunkers during the NBA playoffs. In six of the guard’s 11 postseason games this year, he’s failed to reach 25 points. That trend might continue in this series against a Thunder squad that owns basketball’s top defensive rating (106.6).
Still, Edwards remains one of the NBA’s most dangerous players. The three-time All-Star, while often over-reliant on his shooting, is due for a much better performance tonight. Part of his issue on Tuesday was a lack of shots, only attempting one field goal in the fourth quarter. If nothing else, Minnesota’s top dog should be far more aggressive down the stretch in Game 2. Even against a terrific defense, Edwards has all the tools to drop 24+ points on Thursday.
Jalen Williams more than 1.5 steals
Speaking of defense, few players offer more on both ends of the floor than Jalen Williams. On top of being Oklahoma City’s second-best scoring option, the wing is also a ballhawk. Look no further than Game 1, in which J-Dub tallied five steals against the Timberwolves. While it’s unrealistic to expect a similar showing tonight, the 24-year-old is still capable of wreaking havoc on Minnesota.
A tiring, pressure-packed Thunder defense should be able to force plenty of mistakes tonight. The Timberwolves play a somewhat sloppy brand of basketball, recording the 12th-most turnovers per game this season (14.5). Williams is averaging 1.9 steals over his last ten outings vs. Minnesota. Keeping that in mind, its reasonable to expect multiple takeaways from the All-Star on Thursday.
Naz Reid more than 1.5 three-pointers made
One of the few advantages Minnesota has in this series is down low. Head coach Chris Finch has the luxury of starting Rudy Gobert at center while utilizing Naz Reid off of the bench. The latter of the two has enjoyed another stellar season, posting 14.2 points and 6.0 rebounds while hitting 46.2% of his attempts from the field. The former Sixth Man of the Year is a gifted shooter, knocking down 37.9% of his shots from three-point range as well.
As good as Reid is, the Thunder managed to hold the big man in check on Tuesday. The sixth-year pro put up just four points, missing all seven of his attempts from beyond the arc. However, history tells us he should get back into a groove in Game 2. In eight of Reid’s previous ten meetings with OKC, he’s made at least two three-pointers. That includes each of the last three regular season showdowns between these squads. Expect a better showing from Minnesota’s backup big during tonight’s contest.
Cason Wallace more than 6.5 points
On an Oklahoma City roster loaded with depth, it’s easy to forget about Cason Wallace. The guard’s stats haven’t been very impressive this season (8.4 PPG, 3.4 APG). However, he’s one of the NBA’s ultimate ‘beyond the box score’ contributors. On any given night the 21-year-old offers quality perimeter defense and stellar playmaking. Those attributes often force head coach Mark Daigneault to leave the Kentucky alum on the court for a lengthy amount of time.
That was the case in Game 1; Wallace only scored three points, but still managed to play 33 minutes. In fact, the second-year pro has logged at least 27 minutes in each of his last three outings. 30+ minutes would be nice, but the 21-year-old doesn’t even need that many to drop some buckets. At such a low total, this pick primarily depends on Wallace’s ability to play well in all aspects of the game. Right now, that’s a risk fantasy basketball managers should be willing to take.
Donte DiVincenzo more than 10.5 points
Similarly to Wallace, Donte DiVincenzo commands a decent amount of minutes. Unlike OKC’s defensive stopper, DDV’s value almost entirely comes from his contributions on offense. In that regard, this postseason has been nothing short of a disaster. Through 11 games, the guard has averaged 8.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting an atrocious 31.7% from the field.
With numbers such as those, it’s somewhat surprising to see Minnesota continue to leave DiVincenzo on the court. Still, he’s logged 24+ minutes in all but two of the team’s 11 playoff games thus far. With a few more bounces going his way, the Big Ragu could easily clear double-digit points tonight. Granted, it feels as though that’s been the case for weeks now. Still, it’s only a matter of time until the sharpshooter starts getting some open looks to fall.
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