After facing off in the post-season for the past two years, the rivalry between the Timberwolves and Nuggets begins its next chapter. Can Anthony Edwards and the Wolves rebound from their loss to Dallas and defend their home court?
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets
Date: November 1st, 2024
Time: 8:30PM CDT
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: ESPN/FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio
Alright, Timberwolves fans, buckle up—this season’s barely begun, but the plot twists are already piling up. After getting a taste of déjà vu in their loss to Dallas, the Wolves are gearing up to face another Western Conference nemesis: Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. That’s right, less than a week after Dallas rolled into town to remind us of the Western Conference Finals, we get the 2023 champs walking into Target Center looking for a little payback of their own. And honestly, if you’re a Wolves fan, you have to be feeling both nervous and excited.
Right now, both Minnesota and Denver sit at 2-2, but they’ve each taken a vastly different path to get here. The Wolves have had moments of brilliance (looking at you, Sacramento comeback and Toronto beatdown) sandwiched between two games that, let’s just say, left a lot to be desired. Dallas outpaced them on Tuesday, with Luka and Kyrie putting on a show, leaving our guys looking like they still had some pieces to figure out.
Denver’s path, however, has been rockier than a Coors Light commercial. The Nuggets got smoked by Oklahoma City on opening night and then managed to lose to the Clippers, who didn’t even have Kawhi on the floor. They’ve eked out wins against the Raptors and Nets since then, but barely. For a team that steamrolled its way to a title in 2023, this is not exactly the start anyone expected. The truth is, Jokic is still Jokic—putting up MVP numbers nightly—but the rest of this team? They’re not the juggernaut they used to be. Jamal Murray is hot and cold, the bench looks thin, and Russell Westbrook? Well, his best days are a solid ten years behind him.
As much as I’d love to pile on the Nuggets and revel in their early-season woes, it’s not like the Timberwolves have been flawless either. There have been flashes of greatness, but let’s be real: this team is still working out the kinks with Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo in the mix. They’ve looked disjointed at times, a far cry from the well-oiled machine that took the court last postseason. The good news is, the potential is there. Randle and DiVincenzo aren’t just warm bodies—these are legitimate pieces, and as they get more comfortable, this team could be lethal. The Nuggets, on the other hand, don’t exactly have a lot of room for growth. This is their squad, for better or worse, and if their current form holds, they’re more paper tiger than title contender.
So what should we expect from Friday night? For one, Denver’s going to have this game circled in red ink. They’re not happy about how last season ended, and Jokic will be hungry to remind Minnesota of his MVP credentials. But as the Wolves learned against Dallas, all the hype and revenge narratives don’t matter much when you’re on the court facing the real thing.
Speaking of Jokic, the matchup down low won’t be quite as daunting for him this time. Gone is the three-headed monster of Gobert, Towns, and Naz Reid that wore him down in the playoffs. With KAT out of the picture, Randle is stepping in, and while he’ll bring something different to the table, he doesn’t have the same imposing presence around the rim. Jokic has already dropped 40 on the Raptors this season—if the Wolves don’t contain him early, he might be in for another big night.
But let’s not forget the other piece of Denver’s duo, Jamal Murray. This guy is streaky, sure, but when he’s on, he can torch you fast. If Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Nikhil Alexander-Walker can take turns hounding him on defense, it’ll force Jokic to carry the load alone—and that’s a load even he can’t bear every night.
Now, this is where I get a little personal. This game isn’t just another matchup for me. For the first time in 20 years, I’ll be back at Target Center to watch the Wolves live. Last time I was there? Game one of the 2004 playoffs. KG, Cassell, and Sprewell ran wild in a blowout win over—you guessed it—the Nuggets. A lot has changed since then, but the thrill of being back in Minnesota, surrounded by Wolves fans, has me amped.
So, here’s the hope: the Wolves come out Friday with more than just talent. I want to see focus, grit, and a little bit of that Target Center magic. If they can keep Jokic in check, blanket Murray, and get the offense clicking, this could be the statement win that reaffirms last season wasn’t a fluke. I’ll be in the stands, fingers crossed, hoping this team can channel that 2004 spirit and give us a win to remember.