Anthony Edwards Is Shining and Looks Just Like Michael Jordan

The 2024 NBA Playoffs continue and the defending champion Denver Nuggets will try to even their series at Minnesota Sunday with the Timberwolves leading the divisional round series 2-1. The Nuggets handed the Timberwolves their first loss of the 2024 playoffs after Minnesota won their first six playoff games. 

The Nuggets picked up a big road win 117-90 as an underdog in Game 3 as multi-MVP Nikola Jokic recorded 24 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists in victory. Jamal Murray also scored 24 points on 11-for-21 shooting. Those two stars lead the Nuggets in playoff scoring at 26.6 and 21 points per game, while Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 20.5 points per game and shooting a a sizzling 48.3% from the 3-point line on 7.5 long-range attempts per game. Only Boston PG Derrick White is taking more 3-pointers per game at 9.1 (45.5%). 

Timberwolves star 7-footer Karl Anthony Towns is hitting a playoff-best 58.1% from the arc on 4.4 attempts per game from the 3-point line. Towns is averaging 20 points per game on 57.1% FG overall, 8.4 rebounds and 85% from the free throw line. The 28-year-old 4-time All-Star is key to the Timberwolves success and playoff run. But it's Timberwolves sensational shooting guard Anthony Edwards that is drawing even higher praise and accolades leading the Timberwolves to their best playoff run since league MVP Kevin Garnett took the T'Wolves to their only Western Conference Finals appearance 20 years ago. Edwards is averaging 30.4 points per game on 54.5% FG and 41.3% from the arc with 81% from the charity stripe. That after 'just' 19 points in Game 3. He adds nearly 6 assists and 7 rebounds per game so far in the playoffs. 

How Anthony Edwards became the most lethal scorer in the NBA playoffs

Only NY Knicks PG Jalen Brunson (34.6) is averaging more points per game than Anthony Edwards from the remaining players in this year's NBA Playoffs. Edwards is also just 22 years old. He scored 35-plus points in three straight playoffs games vs. Phoenix and Denver (Game 1) - something only replicated at 22 years old or younger by Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. 

Anthony Edwards - Michael Jordan Comparisons

But what caught my attention today were these highlight clips of Edwards and Jordan. The mirror images of Edwards shots and moves like Michael are something to watch and enjoy. 

Edwards longtime skills trainer and coach is Kierre Jordan, no relation to Michael. He also works during the season with Player Development coach Chris Hines.  They've worked tirelessly on Edwards shooting routine and motion. 

Anthony Edwards 🤝 Michael Jordan

THIS IS INSANE 🤯#NBA | #WolvesBackpic.twitter.com/OD7mMEjG1M

— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) May 11, 2024

Denver is trying to join Dallas as two of the four teams in both the NBA And NHL that are trying to make championship history. There has never been a NBA and NHL team from the same city win both championships in the same year. 

Heading into Mother's Day on Sunday, May 12, here's where the NBA series stand in the Eastern and Western Conference.

- Boston leads Cleveland, 2-1.
- New York leads Indiana, 2-1
- Dallas leads Oklahoma City, 2-1
- Minnesota leads Denver, 2-1

The series favorites Celtics and Nets are leading while the series underdogs Mavericks and Timberwolves hold the lead with adjusted real-time live betting odds available from leading online sportsbooks along with Sportsbetting.ag future prop-parlay special on the NBA-NHL Championship and Finals Double odds. 

Sunday, May 12

- New York at Indiana (-5.5), Total 218
- Denver at Minnesota (-2.5), Total 204 

The online sportsbooks got more money back on the Nuggets Game 3 win as one top online sportsbooks reported more than 70% of the spread bets and greater than 75% of the money (handle) was on the T'Wolves, who were -3.5 to -4.5 favorites in Game 3. The Timberwolves hot run has them overtaking the Nuggets as the most bet team with the most money to win the 2024 NBA Championship. In the current series heading into Game 4, Minnesota (-205) is better than a 2/1 favorite to win the series over the Nuggets (+175) after Denver was greater than 2/1 to win the series ahead of Game 1. 

The most popular player prop bet for Sunday's DEN-MIN game is for Anthony Edwards to score 35+ points (+370). Edwards to score 30+ points (+120) is also popular with his over/under game points set at 28.5 (over -120 at BetOnline). 

Monday, May 13 

- Oklahoma City at Dallas (-2.5), Total 214.5 

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Denver-Minnesota Game 4 Pick

If you missed betting NBA futures ahead of the playoffs, there are plenty of options to bet adjusted odds. I watched and wagered very little on the NBA this season, and suggest targeting more bonus props and player props. None to add here for Game 4, but I'm betting this game 'over' the total of 204.5 - the lowest total for either team in the playoffs thus far after the Nuggets had the best shooting game of the series and Timberwolves their worst in Game 3 with the game still going over. Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert returned after missing Game 2, and even with his defensive strength for the T'Wolves No. 1 rated defense, the Nuggets figured out how to adjust and score more. Denver figured it out as well in March at Minnesota with a 115-112 win when Karl Anthony Towns was out with a knee injury. 

FairwayJay is recognized as a leading sports betting analyst providing insights and information you can bet on here at OSGA. Follow him on X (Twitter) @FairwayJay for more sports betting news and insights.