As the Western Conference finals enters a pivotal Game 5, the Dallas Mavericks look to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals with a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series and Dallas would prefer not to make history in that regard this postseason.
Here's my best bets for Game 5:
Luka Doncic over 17.5 assists and rebounds.
Dallas needs a team effort to win Game 5. While Doncic should continue to showcase his scoring prowess, he might need to play a larger role as a facilitator and playmaker on Thursday. He has cleared this line in 10 of his 16 games played this postseason.
Anthony Edwards over 42.5 points, rebounds and assists.
The Timberwolves will have to rely on Edwards tonight and he has come through in the clutch during the past two games after a shaky start to the series. While Edwards has gone under this line in five of his past six home games, he will play plenty of minutes in Game 5, giving him ample opportunity to surpass this number.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET
Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks
West finals - Game 5
8:30 p.m. American Airlines Center, Dallas
Records (Against the spread)
Timberwolves: 56-26 (40-39-3)
Mavericks: 50-32 (49-33-0)
Line: Mavericks (-1.5) Total: 210.5
Money line: Timberwolves (+100), Mavericks (-120)
BPI projection: Mavericks by 4.4, straight up 64%, 208.2 total points.
Injury report:
Timberwolves: Jaylen Clark, (OUT - Achilles)
Mavericks: Luka Doncic, (GTD - Knee); Maxi Kleber, (GTD - Shoulder); Dereck Lively II, (OUT - Neck); Olivier-Maxence Prosper, (OUT - Ankle); Greg Brown III, (OUT - Personal)