The NBA’s 2025 Christmas slate concludes with a set of acquainted opponents. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets had been constructed by the identical basic supervisor, Tim Connelly. They confronted off within the 2024 playoffs, the place Minnesota ended Denver’s championship protection with a second-round upset. Yearly, they appear to play in a thriller or two. Final yr, the Timberwolves stole a double time beyond regulation victory on a horrible Russell Westbrook taking pictures foul.
Neither crew is sort of at its peak. Denver remains to be coping with accidents to Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun. Minnesota remains to be adjusting to life with out Nickeil Alexander-Walker. However these are nonetheless each Western Convention contenders, and any sport between the 2 of them is a deserving marquee regular-season occasion. Beneath is our decide towards the unfold in addition to one of the best prop guess for the Christmas finale.
Daring predictions for every NBA Christmas Day sport: Thunder-Spurs rigidity, a Curry flurry and extra
Jack Maloney
Timberwolves at Nuggets: The place to look at
- Time: 10:30 p.m. ET | Date: Thursday, Dec. 25
- Location: Ball Area — Denver
- TV channel: ABC/ESPN | Reside stream: fubo (Strive free of charge)
- Odds: Nuggets -3.5, O/U: 238.5 (through BetMGM)
Timberwolves at Nuggets: Prediction, odds, finest bets
Denver’s depth has improved considerably this season, however the accidents are simply changing into an excessive amount of to beat towards an excellent opponent like Minnesota. Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun are nonetheless out, and on Tuesday, Cam Johnson suffered a knee damage that we do not know the extent of but, however ought to depart Denver with no third starter for not less than some time frame. The Timberwolves at all times rise up for Nuggets video games they usually’ve now received 10 of their final 12, together with assertion wins over the Knicks and Thunder. They’re the safer decide with the factors. The Choose: Timberwolves +3.5
I am going to admit my intuition was to select Nikola Jokić’s scoring over to account for his lacking teammates, however no crew limits his shot whole higher than Minnesota. Outdoors of his 61-point gem final season, which got here with out Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. and took two overtimes, Jokić has averaged simply 15.4 shot makes an attempt per sport towards Minnesota over the previous two common seasons. So I am going the opposite approach and anticipating a extra balanced offensive night time for the three-time MVP. The Choose: Jokić Underneath 29.5 Factors
