We may not see a point spread this high the rest of the series. These teams are more even than perceived. Minnesota outscored Denver during the 2-2 split the teams had during the regular season.

The Timberwolves are the No. 1 defensive team. They gave up the fewest points per game and also were first in defensive field goal percentage. The Timberwolves are brimming with confidence after sweeping the Suns in four games with a winning margin of 15.5 points. Minnesota is rested and healthy.

The Nuggets did what they had to do in taking out the Lakers in five games. But they weren't sharp. The points were even during the final four games of the series. Denver went 0-3 ATS the last three times it was favored against the Lakers. 

Minnesota matches up well to the Nuggets because of its size and physical defense. Anthony Edwards is emerging into a superstar. Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns can make things difficult for Nikola Jokic. 

Denver is banged-up. Jamal Murray is dealing with a calf injury. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a defensive ace who likely will cover Edwards, isn't 100 percent of a sprained ankle sustained against the Lakers in Game 5 this past Monday.

There aren't too many teams with a worse offense than the Cardinals. The White Sox are one of those teams.

The White Sox are last in runs per game at 2.7. They also have the second-lowest batting average in the league at .209.

Veteran Lance Lynn should be able to tame Chicago's tepid lineup. Lynn has a 2.64 ERA. The Cardinals' bullpen ranks 14th in ERA, placing them slightly above average.

St. Louis is last in the majors in homers, 27th in runs at 3.5 per game and 26th in batting average at .219. The Cardinals are averaging 2.8 runs during their past five games.

Erick Fedde gets the start for Chicago. He's been the White Sox best pitcher with a 2.60 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. He has a daytime ERA of 1.93.

The Rockies are averaging two runs a game during their last four games. Their offense is far worse away from Coors Field. The Pirates have a bottom-five offense. They are averaging a puny 1.5 runs during their past eight games.

Seeing that Doug Eddings is slated to be the home plate umpire cements this Under play. The Under has cashed at 58 percent during the last five years when Eddings has been behind the plate. He's extremely pitcher-friendly with his strike zone.

This should be of help to the Rockies' Ryan Feltner, who shut out the Marlins for eight plus innings in his last start before faltering in the ninth inning.

Pirates starter Bailey Falter had a tremendous April allowing only four runs in four starts.

The youthful Magic turned a corner this season making the playoffs. But I rate the Cavaliers as the better team, especially at home. It's a nice bonus if All-Star center Jarrett Allen can play for Cleveland. He's questionable with a rib contusion and has missed the last two games.

The Cavaliers defeated the Magic, at home, in Game 5 without Allen and I see them doing it here, too, in Game 7.

Orlando lacks big-game playoff experience. The Magic are 1-8 in their past nine games at Cleveland. This includes going 0-3 in the series with their average losing margin being 8.3 points.