Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets: Odds, injuries, game preview

The Minnesota Timberwolves look to extend their Northwest Division winning streak to five games as they play host to the Denver Nuggets.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets: Odds, injuries, game preview

The Minnesota Timberwolves roller-coaster of a season has stabilized just a bit, with the Wolves turning in an extended stretch of play slightly above the .500-mark over the last several weeks.

The Wolves closed out the month of January with a 9-6 record, including a 4-0 mark against divisional foes: two wins against the Oklahoma City Thunder and a win apiece against the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz.

Now, the Timberwolves will take on the Denver Nuggets for the first time since Dec. 15, when the Wolves defeated the Nuggets on the road behind 38 points (and 10 made 3-pointers!) from Anthony Edwards.

Denver is back on track after a rough patch. They’ve won five consecutive games, although Tuesday is the first half of a road back-to-back that will cap off what will ultimately be a six-game road trip.

The Wolves have won three out of five games, with commanding wins over the Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz bookending a close, late win over the Blazers and a pair of disappointing losses at Golden State and Phoenix.

Minnesota Timberwolves odds vs. Denver Nuggets

The Wolves are favored by five points at home against the Nuggets according to WynnBet. The large line is surely related to Nikola Jokic’s injury status; as of this writing, he is listed as questionable. Still, it feels a hair high.

TV and streaming info for Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets

• Tip-off: 7:00 CT
• Television: Bally Sports North
• Radio: 830 WCCO
• Stream: Fubo.tv offers streaming options

What to watch for in Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets

The first meeting between these two teams this year was way back in October. The Nuggets won, 93-91, in an extremely sloppy, low-scoring affair.

Then, the Wolves went to Denver in December and defeated the Nuggets with ease due to Edwards’ dominant performance.

The win snapped a 12-game losing streak for the Wolves against their division rivals, dating all the way back to Game No. 82 in 2018 when the Wolves won and propelled themselves to the No. 8 seed and the team’s first playoff berth since 2004.

In theory, the Wolves should match up decently well with the Nuggets. Denver is not a prolific offensive rebounding team, and the Wolves are one of the league’s worst defensive rebounding teams. Also, despite boasting the NBA’s No. 10 offensive team, the Nuggets are just No. 28 in free throw rate. The Wolves, of course, are dead-last in both personal fouls committed per game and opponent’s free throw rate.

The Nuggets also don’t have a great answer for Edwards, as evidenced by his impressive performance last time he was in the Mile High City.

If Jokic doesn’t play, this should be an easy Wolves win. If he does, and if Karl-Anthony Towns can stay out of foul trouble, the Wolves should still have a great chance to come out with a victory.

Injury report for Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets

The Wolves have upgraded Patrick Beverley to probable with the ankle sprain that caused him to miss nearly two weeks. However, D’Angelo Russell has been downgraded to doubtful with the left shin contusion he suffered against the Warriors last Thursday.

Josh Okogie (quad contusion) and Leandro Bolmaro (ankle sprain) are both questionable to play.

The Nuggets have Jokic (toe) and DeMarcus Cousins (foot) both listed as questionable. Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray are both still out with long-term injuries.

We’ll be back after the game with key takeaways and player grades. Enjoy Tuesday night basketball, and here’s to 26-25!