The Minnesota Timberwolves will try to snap a three-game home losing streak when they take on the sizzling Denver Nuggets Saturday night at Target Center. The Nuggets, who have won six road games in a row, are looking to end a three-game losing streak to the Timberwolves that started in the 2023 playoffs.
Match Preview
The Timberwolves enter this matchup feeling good after edging the Dallas Mavericks 115-114 at home on Wednesday. Having beaten Dallas on Christmas Day, Minnesota earned back-to-back victories over the Mavericks for the first time since December 2023.
Jaden McDaniels led the Timberwolves with a season-high 27 points, and Anthony Edwards scored 21 points. Veteran Mike Conley chipped in 18 points and eight assists. The Timberwolves had six players in double figures in a balanced offensive performance.
By contrast, Chris Finch's side has not fared too well at home of late, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively. Minnesota, 23-44, now sits ninth in the Western Conference standings, one win ahead of the Phoenix Suns for the final Play-In position.
Conversely, the Denver Nuggets arrive at the meeting red-hot, coming off a blistering 144-109 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. Nikola Jokic was the star again, adding to his already fourth consecutive triple-double with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Ranking third in the league with 30.1 points per game, the Serbian superstar remains the pulse of Michael Malone’s team.
Denver’s supporting players also performed, with Julian Strawther notching a career-high 23 points and Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. finishing with 19 points apiece. The Nuggets have now won seven of eight in addition to their impressive start and improved to 27-16, fourth in the Western Conference, now only two games behind the third-place Memphis Grizzlies.
Team News
The Timberwolves are still missing offseason addition Donte DiVincenzo, who is out indefinitely with a third-degree sprain of a toe. Terrence Shannon Jr. is still out with a mid-foot injury that he suffered in December.
The Nuggets, on the other hand, are without DaRon Holmes for the season after he tore his Achilles in preseason. Vlatko Čančar (knee) is out but expected to back next week.
Mute against the 76ers in the fourth quarter, Jokic is expected to spearhead Denver’s push along with Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray.
Possible Starting Lineups
Minnesota Timberwolves: Conley, Edwards, Gobert, McDaniels, Randle
Denver Nuggets: Murray, Braun, Westbrook, Jokic, Porter Jr.
Prediction
The Timberwolves will be desperate to end their home woes, but the Nuggets’ momentum and Jokic’s brilliance have them as heavy favorites. Look for Denver to win a seventh consecutive road game, and for the Nuggets to almost certainly win a close (five points or fewer) game.
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