The San Antonio Spurs will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the NBA playoffs, and we've compiled predictions from around the NBA.
The San Antonio Spurs will host the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Monday, and all signs point to the Silver and Black having the advantage.
Granted, the Wolves did beat the Spurs in two of their three regular-season matchups, although the Spurs were not healthy for those games, and now the injury advantage has swayed the other way. Donte DiVincenzo will miss the remainder of the season, and there is a very real possibility that Anthony Edwards won't suit up in the second round, either.
With the stage set, the NBA world has made its official predictions, and Spurs fans should be all aboard the hype train.
NBA Playoff Predictions Revealed
According to a local poll by San Antonio's Channel 4, 55 percent of fans think that the Spurs will win in four or five games, and only 12 percent think the Wolves will upset San Antonio.
Of course, one has to remember that Channel 4's poll was almost exclusively filled out by local fans, so there is some bias. However, more national outlets seem to be on the same page.
According to ClutchPoints' associate editor Steve Silverman, the Spurs will win in five games. He cites injuries, the Spurs' eagerness to close out games even as they trail by double digits, and Victor Wembanyama's singular dominance.
If Edwards can make a speedy return, things might look up for the Wolves, although there is no reason to be optimistic.
"I'm told Anthony Edwards will be out to start the second round series," said ESPN insider Shams Charania. "This is a multi-week, minimum two-week injury. So you're looking at, you know, at least a few games before you hope."
IF Edwards rushes back, expect the odds to shift ever so slightly, but for now, the Spurs are commanding favorites.
Even the sportsbooks agree. DraftKings released their game-by-game odds for the series, and a clean sweep has thje best odds of any result (+130). While it seems unlikley that the Spurs beat the Wolves twice in the Twin Cities without any sort of pushback, the experts (both jounralistic, local, and casino) have made it very clear: the Spurs are the team to beat, and the Wolves aren't really a threat.