In a stunning turn of events, the Minnesota Timberwolves have taken a strong hold on their conference semifinals series against the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets. After claiming victory in the first two games on the road, the Timberwolves are now the clear favorites to advance to the conference finals, according to various sportsbooks.

Following their dominant 106-80 win in Game 2, BetMGM has moved the Timberwolves to -115 to win the second-round series as well as the conference finals. Furthermore, they are now -550 favorites to end the Nuggets' dreams of repeating as champions as they head back home to Minnesota, where the Nuggets have struggled in recent years.

Should the third-seeded Timberwolves secure their place in the conference finals, they will face the winner of the Thunder vs. Mavericks series, where they are expected to be significant favorites. So far, Minnesota has been on a rampage in the playoffs, having gone 6-0 and winning every game by a margin of at least six points, with four victories coming by double digits.

BetMGM has also given the Timberwolves odds of +300 to win the NBA Finals, placing them second behind the Boston Celtics at +110. Should they continue their dominant postseason run, it is not out of the question for Minnesota to surpass the Celtics as the favorites. However, the Timberwolves' path to the finals is not guaranteed, as they face the formidable challenge of defeating the Nuggets, who possess a championship pedigree.

Minnesota's back-to-back wins against the Nuggets have put them in an incredibly favorable position going forward. The Nuggets have struggled in Minneapolis, losing four out of their last five games there. As the playoffs progress, the Timberwolves are increasingly relying on the exceptional talent of Anthony Edwards, who has been nothing short of sensational.

Edwards has been a force to be reckoned with against the Nuggets, scoring a remarkable 70 points in the series so far, including a standout 43-point performance in Game 1. In the playoffs, he has upped his scoring average to an impressive 32.3 points per game, a significant improvement from his regular season average of 25.9 points.

With Edwards leading the charge, the Timberwolves' ceiling has been raised to new heights. In addition to their scoring prowess, Minnesota has also been winning the battle in the paint, a remarkable feat considering they face off against likely MVP Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets have been outscored in the paint in both games, allowing 104 points while only scoring 76 so far in the series.

As Game 3 approaches on Friday, all eyes will be on the Timberwolves as they attempt to further solidify their position and inch closer to a spot in the conference finals. The Nuggets will need to regroup and find a way to contain the explosive Timberwolves if they want to stay alive in the playoffs.