2024 NBA Western Conference finals odds, Game 2 time: Mavericks ...

The Dallas Mavericks will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead against the Minnesota Timberwolves as the 2024 Western Conference Finals shift to Dallas following Friday's Game 2 matchup in Minneapolis. Dallas stunned Minnesota 108-105 in Game 1 to draw first blood on the road. The Mavs (50-32), who lost both regular-season games at Minneapolis and three of four on the year, are 5-2 on the road in the 2024 NBA playoffs. Meanwhile, the Wolves (56-26) are 3-3 on their home floor this postseason. Mike Conley (calf) is listed as questionable for Minnesota.

The game will tip off from the Target Center at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Timberwolves have allowed the fourth-fewest points per game this postseason at 100.3, while the Mavericks are allowing 103.3, fifth-fewest. Minnesota is a 5.5-point favorite in the latest Timberwolves vs. Mavericks odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 207.5. Before making any Mavericks vs. Timberwolves picks, be sure to check out what legendary handicapper Bruce Marshall has to say.

An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Marshall's vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects. Marshall has crushed his NBA picks this season for SportsLine members, entering this matchup on a 193-141 run that has returned more than $3,800 for $100 players. Anybody following is way up.

Now, he has set his sights on Mavericks vs. Timberwolves and just locked in his picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Mavericks vs. Timberwolves:

• Mavericks vs. Timberwolves spread: Minnesota -5.5
• Mavericks vs. Timberwolves over/under: 207.5 points 
• Mavericks vs. Timberwolves money line: Dallas +192, Minnesota -239
• DAL: Has hit the game total Under in 45 of its last 70 games (+17.50 units) 
• MIN: Has covered the third-quarter spread in 51 of its last 82 games (+16.25 units) 
• Mavericks vs. Timberwolves picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why the Timberwolves can cover

Power forward Jaden McDaniels is having a solid postseason, bettering his regular-season numbers nearly across the board. He is coming off a 24-point, four-rebound and three-assist effort in Wednesday's Game 1 loss. He had 23 points, six rebounds and two steals in the 98-90 series-clinching Game 7 win over the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals. In 12 playoff starts, he is averaging 13.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 blocks and one steal.

Center Rudy Gobert is averaging a double-double during the postseason. In 11 games, all starts, Gobert is averaging 12.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 blocks and one steal. He is coming off a 12-point, seven-rebound and two-block performance in the game 1 loss to Dallas. He has four double-doubles during this year's playoffs, including a 19-point, 14-rebound effort in a 126-109 win at Phoenix in Game 3 of their first-round series. See which team to pick here.

Why the Mavericks can cover 

Power forward PJ Washington has registered three double-doubles this postseason, including a 29-point, 11-rebound and four-assist effort in a Game 2 win at Oklahoma City in the second round. He also had 21 points and 12 rebounds in Game 4 of that series, as well as 10 points and 10 rebounds in Game 5. He scored 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots in Wednesday's Game 1 win over the Timberwolves. In 13 postseason starts this season, he is averaging 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and one steal.

Also averaging double-digit scoring for Dallas is small forward Derrick Jones Jr. In Saturday's decisive Game 6 win over Oklahoma City, he scored a playoff-high 22 points, while adding four rebounds and two assists. He scored 8 points and added four rebounds and two assists in Wednesday's Game 1 win over Minnesota. In three regular-season matchups against the Timberwolves in 2023-24, Jones averaged 10 points, 7.7 rebounds, two steals and 1.3 blocks. See which team to pick here.

How to make Mavericks vs. Timberwolves picks

Marshall is leaning Under on the point total. He has also identified a critical X-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine. 

So who wins Mavericks vs. Timberwolves in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, and which side of the spread is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Mavericks vs. Timberwolves spread to jump on, all from the expert who has returned more than $3,800 on his NBA picks this season, and find out.