| MATCHUP | Minnesota Timberwolves | Denver Nuggets |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 49-33 | 54-28 |
| Where | Ball Arena, Denver, CO | |
| When | Saturday, April 18, 2026 | |
| Time | 03:30 PM EDT | |
| TV | Prime Video | |
The Minnesota Timberwolves pay a visit to the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 at the Ball Arena on Saturday night. Here’s a Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets Prediction. This article will include a Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets Pick.
Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Preview
The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t finish the regular season like they wanted, as they split their last 12 games to finish with a 49-33 overall record and a lot of that has to do with their offensive efficiency, which was only ranked 14th this season. Anthony Edwards played just 61 games this season but still led the way with averages of 28.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game; Julius Randle played 79 games with averages of 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, while Jaden McDaniels averaged 14.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. As a team, the Timberwolves scored 118.0 points per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from the 3-point line.
Denver Nuggets Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets look to be peaking at just the right time as they capped the regular season with a 12-game win streak to finish with a 54-28 overall record. Nikola Jokic compiled a historic season as he finished with averages of 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game while leading the league in rebounds and assists. Jamal Murray averaged 25.4 points and 7.1 assists per game, while Aaron Gordon averaged 16.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in the 36 games that he played. As a team, the Nuggets scored 122.1 points per game while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from the 3-point line.
Why the Denver Nuggets will win
- The Nuggets have won each of their last 11 home games.
- The Timberwolves have lost seven of their last eight day games.
- The home team has covered the spread in eight of the Timberwolves’ last nine playoff games.
- The Timberwolves have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight day games following a home win.
Why the Minnesota Timberwolves will win
- The underdogs have won four of the Timberwolves’ last five games at Ball Arena.
- The Nuggets have lost three of their last four playoff games as favorites against Northwest Division opponents.
- The Timberwolves have covered the spread in each of their last five day games against the Nuggets.
- The Nuggets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four Western Conference First Round games as favorites following a win.
Total Points Facts
- Seven of the Nuggets’ last eight games at Ball Arena have gone OVER the total points line.
- Seven of the Timberwolves’ last eight day games have gone UNDER the total points line.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Nuggets rank 30th in the league for opponent turnovers per game this season (11.8).
- The Nuggets rank 1st in the league for three-point percentage this season (39.6%).
- The Timberwolves rank 2nd in the league for blocks per game this season (5.8).
- The Timberwolves rank 2nd in the league for opponent blocks per game this season (4.1).
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Prediction
The Timberwolves rested their players early and expect to have a full roster for Saturday, while the Nuggets are still sweating on the availability of Jamal Murray and Christian Braun, who are both questionable. These teams met four times in the regular season, with the Nuggets winning the first three contests before the Timberwolves got some revenge in the fourth encounter. Be sure to check the lineups before tipoff, but at this stage I prefer a play on the Nuggets to draw first blood with a win and cover at home, but that’s assuming that Murray is able to suit up. I think this series gets to six games and it kicks off with the Nuggets winning relatively comfortably at home.