2026 NBA Playoffs: Spurs vs. Timberwolves Game 3 Best Bets & Parlay Picks (May 8)

When we last saw the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs they were emptying the benches for nearly eight minutes. That's because Game 2 was over early in the fourth quarter.

The series is tied 1-1, but it doesn't have the feel of an even matchup. The Timberwolves barely escaped with a W in Game 1. In Game 2, they played like a team with a bad charley horse, and San Antonio pounded them off the court.

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Oddsmakers list the Spurs as road favorites, which is what you do when a 62-win team is facing a No. 6 seed. The torch may be passing from one challenger to another in the west, as San Antonio finally emerges from a post-dynasty snooze that lasted more than half a decade.

Here are details for Game 3 on Friday, May 8:

• San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. ET, on Prime Video

NBA Playoffs Best Bets: Spurs vs. Timberwolves Game 3

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Game 3 Odds

Odds from FanDuel:

• Moneyline: Spurs (-200), Timberwolves (+168)
• Spread: Spurs -4.5 (-112), Timberwolves +4.5 (-108)
• Totals: Over 216.5 (-108), Under 216.5 (-112)

Western Conference Semifinals Series Betting

Odds from FanDuel:

• Spurs To Win Series (-450)
• Timberwolves To Win Series (+350)

The last time the Spurs advanced to the Conference Finals was 2017. Find series odds from your favorite NBA sports betting app.

NBA Playoffs: Spurs vs. Timberwolves Game 3 Same-Game Parlay

Odds for this parlay are from FanDuel:

• Anthony Edwards Under 22.5 Points
• Victor Wembanyama Over 43.5 Points + Rebounds
• Stephon Castle Over 20.5 Points + Assists
• Odds: +892

I'm rolling out a Playoff Parlay with three legs. My $100 winning bet would pay out $892 in winnings.

When this series is over, the narrative (as they often are) will be simple. Either it will be "Wemby Still Needs To Mature To Challenge for a Ring" or it will be "Injury to Ant Keeps Sinks T-Wolves."

I'd put the second one on my betting slip if I could wager on such things. It's clear to anyone with eyes that Anthony Edwards is playing with limitations due to his left knee hyperextension suffered in round one. The Ant-Man is basically operating with only one good antenna, if you will. His points in this series have gone from 18 to 12, and it's expected he will play about 25 minutes off the bench again. I don't see him getting healthier as the series wears on.

Victor Wembanyama has averaged 16 PPG since he went for 27 in Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. He's having an impact of course: a playoff record 12 blocks in Game 1 against Minnesota, and 15 RPG in this series. I'm looking at his PTS + REBOUNDS for my parlay.

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Wemby is averaging 32.5 points plus rebounds in his last four playoff games. For the regular season that figure was 36.5. The big Frenchman has yet to have a big scoring game against the Wolves here in this series. All we need is 11 more points+rebounds from Wemby compared to his recent output (and he has yet to score even 20 this series).

The third bet in this same-game parlay is Stephon Castle, who has unlocked the secret to getting points on this swarming Minnesota defense: pump fakes and drives to the rim to draw contact. He got to the free-throw line nine times in Game 2. The Spurs point guard is averaging 19 PPG this series, so it seems like not much of a stretch that he can get me the 21+ Points + Assists I need. Castle is 15-for-17 from the line against Minnesota.

My pick for Spurs vs. Timberwolves Game 3

• San Antonio Under 107.5 Points on Alternate Totals from DraftKings: +136

The Timberwolves have held opponents under 100 points in all three of their home games in the playoffs. I think that streak ends tonight because the Spurs are still waiting for Wembanyama to unload his arsenal.

The Spurs are averaging 117 points per game on the road in the playoffs, five fewer than at home. On the flip side, the Timberwolves are +5 points at home (112 PPG compared to 107 PPG on the road).

That means I expect the totals to be near the O/U odds market. The oddsmakers have been within 1.5 points on the totals on average, for the eight Minnesota playoff games this spring. But if you locate the Alternate Spread calculator, you can adjust to and find favorable odds on San Antonio and hedge against the Over. In this case, if the Spurs can be held under 108, my $50 bet wins $68. That's half a unit.

Injury Report for Game 3: Spurs vs. Timberwolves

• MIN: Anthony Edwards (left knee bone bruise) is Questionable
• MIN: Ayo Dosunmu (right heel soreness) is Questionable
• SAS: Clean Injury Report

Minnesota head coach Chris Finch expects to use Edwards off the bench. If it goes like the first two games, he will be watched closely, and played 25 minutes or so.