Double Vision: Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns steps up

This space aims to identify players who represent good value for recording a double-double in a particular game. If they post double-digit totals in any two of the five main categories (points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals), backers will at least double their money – and sometimes make much more than that.

The bet: A double-double for Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (+195 DraftKings)

After enduring a 29-point loss to the Nuggets in Game 1, Towns will need to deliver a better performance as his team looks to even the series. He did manage a double-double in defeat, but he scored just 11 points on 5-for-15 shooting and missed both of his free-throw attempts.

Getting to that plateau required Towns to make three consecutive baskets in the fourth quarter, and then he sat for the final six and a half minutes because the game was out of reach. Fortunately, solid rebounding numbers have been a constant for Towns in the postseason. With his 10-rebound effort on Sunday, he has now posted double-digit boards in 11 of his 12 career playoff games.

Towns saw a total of 18 rebound chances in the opener, which was three more than the healthy 15 he averaged over the last four games of the regular season. Including the Play-In Tournament, he has recorded three straight double-doubles, and the desire to avoid an 0-2 series deficit should help him get a fourth.