nuggets vs timberwolves
Table of Contents
Nuggets vs Timberwolves Match
The Minnesota Timberwolves, riding high from a stunning comeback win, are aiming to extend their winning streak to four games as they take on the Denver Nuggets in Minneapolis this Tuesday.
Minnesota (47-21) faces a quick turnaround after an impressive comeback, overturning a 16-point deficit to secure a 114-104 victory against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Monday. This win caps off a successful six-game road trip for the Timberwolves, finishing with a commendable 4-2 record.
Now, they’re set to kick off a four-game homestand by facing off against Denver (47-21). With both teams vying for the top seed in the Western Conference alongside the Oklahoma City Thunder (47-20), the playoff race is heating up.
Read Also: Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul full fight in Live Netflix Boxing Event
The Nuggets, while enjoying better rest, might find themselves in a sour mood following their heartbreaking 107-105 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. The defeat came courtesy of Kyrie Irving’s clutch left-handed shot at the buzzer. Additionally, Denver struggled on the boards, being outrebounded by a significant margin of 60-37 against the Mavericks.
After the loss, Nuggets coach Mike Malone highlighted the glaring rebounding deficit, expressing his surprise, “I can’t remember the last time we got outrebounded by (23).”
Nikola Jokic and his teammates are determined to step up their rebounding game against Minnesota, especially considering the injuries plaguing some of the Timberwolves’ key big men.
Karl-Anthony Towns is sidelined due to a knee injury, while Rudy Gobert has been absent for the last two games due to a rib injury. Additionally, Naz Reid had to leave the contest due to a head injury.
Gobert is hopeful for a quick return, but his status for Tuesday’s game remains uncertain.
“Currently, the pain is improving daily, but it’s still not at a level where I can fully contribute and support the team,” Gobert stated before Monday’s game. “It’s frustrating not being able to be myself out there and assist the team, but hopefully, it’s just a matter of days before I’m back.”
With Towns and Gobert sidelined Anthony Edwards has stepped up to provide additional scoring for the Timberwolves. Edwards led the team with an impressive 32 points on Monday, showcasing his skills with a highlight-reel dunk over Jazz defender John Collins.
Edwards’ teammates couldn’t contain their excitement, leaping from their seats on the bench as they witnessed the dunk. The electrifying play immediately gained traction on social media.
“He’s a special player, possessing extraordinary talent,” remarked Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. “We’re fortunate to have him on our team.”
The Nuggets hold a similar sentiment towards Jokic, who leads the team with remarkable averages of 25.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game this season. Following Jokic on the scoring leaderboard is Jamal Murray with an average of 20.9 points per game, while Michael Porter Jr. maintains an average of 16.7 points.
This upcoming game marks the second encounter of four scheduled meetings between the teams in the regular season.
In their initial clash on November 1st at home, Minnesota secured a convincing 110-89 victory. Edwards led the charge for the Timberwolves with 24 points, shooting 8-for-16 from the field, while Mike Conley contributed 17 points on an impressive 7-for-9 shooting performance.
Meanwhile, Jokic posted 25 points and 10 rebounds for Denver in that matchup, while Murray added 14 points. However, Denver struggled with their shooting, managing only 39.6 percent from the field and a dismal 18.2 percent (6 of 33) from beyond the arc.
Nuggets vs Timberwolves are scheduled to face off in Denver on March 29th and once more on April 10th.