Game 5 of the 2024 Western Conference finals has the No. 3 seed Minnesota Timberwolves hosting the No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks on Thursday evening. The Mavericks opened the series with three consecutive wins to take a commanding 3-0 lead. Minnesota bounced back in a major way in Game 4, securing a 105-100 win on the road. The Mavericks are still leading the series 3-1 and are one win away from booking a spot in the NBA Finals.
Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET at the Target Center in Minnesota. The Timberwolves are 4.5-point favorites in the latest Timberwolves vs. Mavericks odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 209.5. Before making any Mavericks vs. Timberwolves picks, be sure to check out what legendary handicapper Bruce Marshall has to say.
An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Marshall's vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects. Marshall has crushed his NBA picks this season for SportsLine members, entering this matchup on a 193-142 run that has returned more than $3,700 for $100 players. Anybody following is way up.
Now, he has set his sights on Mavericks vs. Timberwolves and locked in his picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Timberwolves vs. Mavericks:
- Mavericks vs. Timberwolves spread: Minnesota -4.5
- Mavericks vs. Timberwolves over/under: 209.5 points
- Mavericks vs. Timberwolves money line: Minnesota -198, Dallas +164
- MIN: The Timberwolves are 3-6 ATS in their past nine games
- DAL: The Mavericks are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games on the road
- Mavericks vs. Timberwolves picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Timberwolves can cover
Guard Anthony Edwards is a superb two-way threat for Minnesota. Edwards has a quick first step to soar to the rim with a smooth jumper to space the floor. The Georgia product is also determined to be an energetic defender. In the 2024 NBA playoffs, Edwards ranks first on the team in points (27.5), assists (6.5), and steals (1.5). In the Game 4 win, he totaled 29 points, 10 boards, and nine assists.
Forward Karl-Anthony Towns has the ability to score from all three levels on the floor. Towns owns a good shooting range with a knack for being active on the boards. The four-time All-Star logs 18.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in the postseason. In his last outing, the 28-year-old finished with 25 points, five rebounds, and went 4-of-5 from downtown. See which team to pick here.
Why the Mavericks can cover
Guard Luka Doncic continues to be the No. 1 playmaker on the court for the Mavs. Doncic plays at his own pace but knows how to pick his spots as both a scorer and facilitator. The 25-year-old averages team-highs in scoring (28.3), rebounds (9.6), assists (9.1), and steals (1.6) in the playoffs. In Tuesday's loss, Doncic recorded a triple-double with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Center Daniel Gafford brings terrific athleticism to the frontcourt. Gafford plays above the rim as both a rebounder and a shot blocker. He also excels in the pick-and-roll as an alley-oop threat. The Arkansas product averages 9.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game in the 2024 NBA playoffs. He's scored in double figures in three games this series. In Game 4, Gafford notched 12 points, eight boards, three blocks, and shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the field. See which team to pick here.
How to make Timberwolves vs. Mavericks picks
Marshall is leaning Under on the point total. He has also identified a critical X-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
So who wins Timberwolves vs. Mavericks in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, and which side of the spread is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Mavericks vs. Timberwolves spread to jump on, all from the expert who has returned more than $3,700 on his NBA picks this season, and find out.
