Game Preview #45 – Timberwolves vs. Nuggets

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets return to Target Center for another heated battle between these Northwest Division rivals. Can the Wolves keep their hopes of contending out West alive by downing Denver?

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets
Date: January 25th, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM CST
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: ABC/ESPN+
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets: A Rivalry Renewed and a Season-Defining Battle

Revenge tours don’t come much juicier than this. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ week of playoff paybacks concludes with an absolute heavyweight bout as they welcome the Denver Nuggets to Target Center for a Saturday matinee. This isn’t just another game—it’s a high-stakes clash dripping with bad blood, playoff implications, and, let’s be honest, a healthy dose of pride.

The Wolves are coming off a nail-biting victory over the Mavericks, a win that was less about style and more about grit. Now, after two days of much-needed rest, they find themselves staring down the Nuggets, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs in 2023 before they returned the favor in 2024. This is more than just a chance for redemption. It’s a pivotal moment in the Wolves’ season.

Currently sitting five games behind Denver in the loss column, a win would close the gap to four and keep the Wolves’ slim hopes for a top-four seed alive. But lose this one? That chasm widens to six games, and the idea of leapfrogging Denver starts feeling like a pipe dream. With just half the season left, every game matters, but some matter more than others. This one? It’s massive.

The Jokic Problem

We have to start with Nikola Jokic, the NBA’s walking cheat code. The guy is averaging a casual 30.2 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 10.1 assists. That’s right—he’s a center averaging a triple-double while casually making every defender in his path look silly. Slowing him down feels like trying to stop Thanos with a water pistol.

The Wolves will throw their revamped frontcourt at him, hoping the trio of Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid can keep Jokic from running wild. This formula worked in their first meeting back on November 1st, when Minnesota eked out a last-second win. But here’s the problem: Jokic is like one of those boss characters in a video game that adapts to your strategy the second time around. If Gobert doesn’t dominate the boards, if Randle doesn’t throw his weight around, or if Naz doesn’t step up offensively, this game could get out of hand fast.

Possession is Everything

One thing is clear: possessions will decide this game. The Nuggets are too good offensively to give them extra opportunities, so the Wolves have to dominate the glass and protect the ball. No lazy turnovers, no giving Jokic three bites at the apple on one possession. Gobert, Randle, and even Jaden McDaniels will need to crash the boards with a vengeance.

On the offensive end, it’s all about clean execution. Mike Conley and Rob Dillingham need to set the tone as facilitators, keeping the ball moving and finding the open man. And when the Wolves get those open looks? They’ve got to knock them down. It’s the NBA—good looks don’t come around often, especially against a team like Denver.

Ant and Randle: The Dynamic Duo

Let’s talk about Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle. If the Wolves are going to pull this off, their stars need to outshine Jokic. Ant has been electric lately, blending deep threes with aggressive drives to the hoop. He’s not just a scorer—he’s a tone-setter, a guy who can swing the momentum of a game with one ridiculous dunk or a step-back three that sends the crowd into a frenzy.

As for Randle, his offensive output has been a bit subdued lately, but he’s more than made up for it as a facilitator. That’s great and all, but let’s not kid ourselves—against Denver, the Wolves need buckets, and they need them from Randle. He’s got to be aggressive, challenge Jokic, and maybe even draw some fouls to put the Nuggets’ MVP on the bench for stretches.

The Supporting Cast

The Wolves’ role players will also need to step up. Guys like McDaniels, Reid, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker will get their chances from beyond the arc, especially if Ant and Randle draw the defense into the paint. The question is whether they’ll hit those shots. Against Dallas, they did just enough to get by. Against Denver, “just enough” won’t cut it.

And let’s not forget the absence of Donte DiVincenzo. His injury has forced the Wolves to rely more heavily on Conley and Dillingham in the backcourt, and while they’ve stepped up admirably, the margin for error without Donte is razor-thin.

Why This Game Matters

Let’s zoom out for a second. The Western Conference is a logjam. Six games in the loss column separate the fourth seed from the 12th seed . The Wolves are teetering in that 7-8 range, but they’re talented enough to climb higher—if they start stringing together wins.

This game against Denver is the kind of statement game that can galvanize a team. A win not only boosts morale but sets the tone for the crucial stretch ahead, which features winnable games against Atlanta, Phoenix, Utah, and Washington. By this time next week, the Wolves could realistically be sitting pretty in the fifth seed, closing in on Denver. But that dream only becomes a reality if they take care of business tomorrow against the Nuggets.

Final Thoughts

This is it, Wolves fans. This is where we find out if this team has what it takes to hang with the big boys out West. Denver isn’t just a rival—they’re a measuring stick. Beating them on your home floor would send a message to the rest of the league: the Wolves are for real.

But if they stumble? If Jokic does Jokic things and the Wolves can’t find an answer? It’s going to feel like yet another missed opportunity in a season that’s had far too many of them.

The stage is set. The crowd will be rocking. Let’s see if the Wolves can rise to the occasion—or if they’ll leave us all muttering, “Same old Wolves.”