The Minnesota Timberwolves are heading to Denver to face the Nuggets in a crucial Western Conference showdown Tuesday night. Denver enters as slight 3.5-point favorites at home according to BetOnline odds.
Want to catch all the action? The game tips off at 10 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on TNT and truTV. You can also stream it free through Jazz Sports.
This matchup features two teams jockeying for playoff positioning with the regular season winding down.
Minnesota (43-32) sits just a half-game behind the Warriors for the sixth seed in the West with seven games left to play. They’ve been on a roll lately, winning two straight and going 9-5 against division opponents this season.
The Wolves have been particularly impressive against Denver recently, winning their last five meetings. After a narrow three-point victory at home in November, they’ve dominated the Nuggets in their last two matchups, winning by 29 and 20 points.
They’re playing some of their best basketball right now, going 7-3 in their last 10 games while averaging a impressive 123.1 points per contest.
The Timberwolves will be without guard Terrance Shannon Jr., who’s sidelined with a groin injury.
Denver (47-28) is trying to hold onto the third seed in the Western Conference, with the Lakers breathing down their necks. The defending champs have won two straight games after dropping the first contest of their current five-game homestand.
The Nuggets’ injury report is more concerning. While Nikola Jokic (ankle) is listed as probable, Jamal Murray (hamstring) and Aaron Gordon (calf) are questionable. Christian Braun should play despite a foot issue, while Julian Strawther and DaRon Holmes II remain out with longer-term injuries.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone didn’t mince words about his team’s approach to facing Minnesota.
“I think they’ve approached this game like it’s a rivalry, and I think we’ve approached these games like it’s just another game sometimes,” Malone said. “We just got to play harder, whether it’s a rivalry or not.”
The numbers suggest this could be a close one. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives Minnesota a slight edge with a 51.8% chance of winning.
Denver does have history on its side in one respect – they’re 12-5 in their last 17 games against Western Conference opponents.
But with the Wolves dominating this matchup recently and playing better basketball over the past few weeks, this promises to be an intense battle between two teams with serious playoff aspirations.
