Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (54-28, third in the Western Conference)Denver; Monday, 10:30 p.m. EDTLINE: Nuggets -10.5; over/under is 223.5WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Timberwolves lead series 3-1BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Timberwolves look to clinch the series over the Denver Nuggets in game five of the Western Conference first round. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-96 in the last meeting on Sunday. Ayo Dosunmu led the Timberwolves with 43 points, and Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 30.The Nuggets have gone 11-5 against division opponents. Denver is fourth in the NBA with 29.0 assists per game. Nikola Jokic leads the Nuggets averaging 10.7.The Timberwolves are 9-7 against opponents from the Northwest Division. Minnesota is eighth in the Western Conference scoring 50.3 points per game in the paint led by Dosunmu averaging 11.5.The Nuggets average 14.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.1 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Timberwolves allow. The Timberwolves average 118.0 points per game, 1.1 more than the 116.9 the Nuggets allow to opponents.TOP PERFORMERS: Murray is averaging 25.4 points and 7.1 assists for the Nuggets. Jokic is averaging 22.7 points over the last 10 games.Popular ReadsJulius Randle is averaging 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and five assi …
