After blowing a fourth-quarter lead on Sunday, the Minnesota Timberwolves get a chance to bounce back against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have lost four straight games, but there are a couple of things going for them on Tuesday.
Yes, the Wolves have to travel to Denver and play at altitude against a team that was just in the Western Conference Finals. But Minnesota led Sunday’s game by one heading into the fourth quarter, and while the Nuggets accelerated away from the Wolves down the stretch, Ryan Saunders’ group was competitive for the majority of the game.
Additionally, the Wolves have a shot at getting Jaylen Nowell back for the game. Josh Okogie is close to returning but will apparently not play. Nowell has yet to play this season, and Okogie has missed the last two-and-a-half games with a hamstring issue.
Minnesota Timberwolves odds at the Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are favored to win this one by 10.5 points. The line prior to Sunday’s tilt was only 8.5, but give Denver a couple of points for home-court advantage and playing in the Mile High City, and there you have it.
TV and streaming info for Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
- Television: Fox Sports North
- Radio: 830 WCCO
- Stream: Fubo.tv offers streaming options
What to watch for in Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets dominated the early and late portions of the game on Sunday. In between, Nikola Jokic ran into some foul trouble and D’Angelo Russell had his best quarter of the season so far to put the Wolves up by a single point heading into the fourth quarter.
Then, Jokic took over. The Joker dished out six assists in the fourth quarter alone en route to 12 dimes on the night and another triple-double. Much of his damage was done in the mid-post on dribble-handoffs, but he was also effective in transition and on the glass.
The Wolves need to find a way to disrupt the handoff action between Jokic and Jamal Murray, and consider more ways that they can get Malik Beasley involved on the other end of the floor.
Beasley was easily the Timberwolves’ best player on Sunday, scoring 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting. He’ll be motivated to be facing his former team once again, and without Towns and Russell still working his way out of an early-season funk, the Wolves need Beasley to be on his game.
Injury Report for Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
Josh Okogie remains out for the game. Nowell is officially listed as questionable.
The Nuggets will be without Michael Porter, Jr. again as he remains out due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
We’ll back after Wolves-Nuggets with postgame player grades. See you then!