The Denver Nuggets got some much needed rest over the weekend and now gear up to face their division rival, the Minnesota Timberwolves, tonight. Thus far the Wolves have got the better of the Nuggets this season, beating them in all three matchups and twice in blowout fashion. That makes four straight victories in total for Minnesota against Denver. The addition of Julius Randle in the offseason brought mixed results but there’s little doubt his physicality has caused issues for the Nuggets, particularly when they are without Aaron Gordon. One more chance to get some get back this season.
The Essentials
Who: Denver Nuggets (47-28) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (43-32)
When: 8PM MDT
Where: The Can. Denver, CO.
How to watch/listen: TNT, Altitude Radio 92.5FM.
Rival blog: Canis Hoopus
The Matchup
| Position | Nuggets | Wolves | Advantage |
| PG | Jamal Murray | Mike Conley Jr. | Nuggets |
| SG | Christian Braun | Anthony Edwards | Wolves |
| SF | Michael Porter Jr. | Jaden McDaniels | Nuggets |
| PF | Aaron Gordon | Julius Randle | Even |
| C | Nikola Jokic | Rudy Gobert | Nuggets |
| Bench | Russell Westbrook, Peyton Watson, DeAndre Jordan, Jalen Pickett | Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaylen Clark | Wolves |
Injury report: Nikola Jokic – probable (ankle), Christian Braun – probable (foot), Aaron Gordon – questionable (calf), Jamal Murray – questionable (hamstring), Julian Strawther – knee (out), DaRon Holmes II – out (achilles); Terrence Shannon Jr. – out (groin).
The Three Things
The thing to watch for: Physicality
As I said in the open, the Wolves are going to play physical with the Nuggets. In fact, they’re sort of the poster child of beating up Denver. Now, the physicality of Minnesota did get them into a scuffle over the weekend, but that’s the mentality of this team and frankly has been for a bit. A couple guys get tossed from a game because Isaiah Stewart is being Isaiah Stewart? Fine. The Nuggets thus far this season have not only not been able to match Minnesota banging in the trenches, but they seem to get outright thrown off their game by it. No excuse for not expecting a knock down, drag out fight tonight. I expect the Nuggets to come prepared for that challenge specifically.
The thing to remember: this team doesn’t own you so stop acting like they do
Four straight victories for the Wolves makes it look like they’ve got Denver’s number and at the end of the day they kind of do because the proof is in the pudding. However, this is a team that Denver handled in the playoffs two years ago, was on the verge of eliminating last season and had them on the ropes in the first game this season. To the Wolves credit, they’ve rallied every time. This isn’t as lopsided as it looks though. There’s nothing about this matchup that should really be any different than it was two seasons ago when the Nuggets handled Minnesota in five games. The problem has been the Wolves get up for Denver, the Wolves make it personal to beat Denver and the Nuggets seem to just not really care that much. If the Nuggets put as much focus on this matchup as Minnesota does I think the result will be much different.
The thing to bet: Julius Randle under 19.5 points (-125)
Randle has been a thorn in Denver’s side this year. He’s scored over 20 in all three games thus far. Why am I saying to take the under then? Because how he bullies the Nuggets has become a narrative and its one largely written on the absence or minutes restriction of Gordon in these matchups. AG is a full go tonight. I think he makes a point of it to give Randle the business all night.
