The Minnesota Timberwolves have posted possibly the most surprising result in the first round of the NBA playoffs after taking a 3-1 series lead over the third-seeded Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

However, as they travel to Denver for Monday’s Game 5 at 10:30 p.m. ET., that win may have come at great cost to the team.

In Minnesota’s 112-96 victory, Donte DiVincenzo (12.2 ppg.) tore his right Achilles and is now out for the rest of the postseason. Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards, who led the team and was third in the league with 28.8 points per game during the regular season, hyperextended his left knee and his status, at least for Monday’s contest, is in doubt.

The Nuggets sure wish a peripheral scorer would step up the way Ayo Dosunmu did on Saturday. The recently acquired Dosunmu stepped up in Edwards’ and DiVincenzo’s absences, scoring a career-high 43 points, the most for a reserve player in the playoffs in 50 years.

It was the second straight game in which Dosunmu led the T-Wolves in scoring. Can he do it again in Game 5 for his short-handed squad?

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets NBA Betting Odds

With Edwards’ availability in doubt, Minnesota is the decisive underdog in Game 5. They are +390 on the moneyline, while the Nuggets, who are listed as 11-point favourites on the NBA odds, are -525.

The over/under is listed at 222. Saturday’s 208-point total fell well below the listed 229. It was the fifth time in eight games these teams played to the under this season, and the third time this series.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Naz Reid added 17 points and nine rebounds on Saturday, followed by Julius Randle with 15 points and nine rebounds, Jaden McDaniels with 12 points and eight rebounds, and Rudy Gobert with 15 rebounds.

Mike Conley, the 38-year-old veteran guard, played 21 minutes after combining for 16 in the first three games of the series. He had five points and four assists, and knows how to navigate a playoff series, but Minnesota would surely love to have Edwards back in the lineup as soon as possible. 

Dosunmu now leads the team in this series with 22.8 points per game. If Edwards cannot go, coach Chris Finch could probably use a similar offensive performance from Dosunmu on Monday.

Denver Nuggets

Denver should win easily back at home, but this team increasingly feels like Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, and … that’s it. Murray had 30 points for the third time this series, while Jokic went for 24 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists. 

The rest of the team combined for 42 points, with Tim Hardaway Jr. next in line with 10. Aaron Gordon had nine points and is averaging just 11.3 points in three games this series, and his availability is again in doubt on Monday due to calf tightness.

Cam Johnson had nine points, and Christian Braun had eight points on Saturday. That just won’t do. 

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Game 5?

The Timberwolves don’t want to lose this hard-fought momentum, but if there are any doubts, Edwards should sit in Game 5. That puts the onus heavily on Dosunmu, Randle, and others.

But here’s the thing, they can still whip up this Nuggets team that has quickly gone belly up after entering the postseason riding high on a 12-game winning streak.

Although I think Minnesota can win straight up and end this series, along with Denver’s pitiful performance to date, we’ll simply say that the Timberwolves will cover as 11-point underdogs. Take the points and the team that seems to want to be here more right now. Denver wins 113-108.

TIMBERWOLVES

Away

108

NUGGETS

Home

113

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