Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves Tips, Betting Predictions & Game 2 Stats
Denver lead this series 1-0 after a 116-105 win in Game 1 on Saturday, a physical, feisty contest that the Nuggets dominated in the third quarter after trailing by as many as 12 early.
Nikola Jokić recorded his 22nd career playoff triple-double (25 pts, 13 reb, 11 ast) and Jamal Murray scored 30 points without making a single three-pointer, going 16 of 16 from the free-throw line instead.
The Nuggets now carry a 13-game win streak into Game 2 on their home floor.
Minnesota fought hard, Anthony Edwards played through his sore knee and scored 22 points, while Donte DiVincenzo hit four threes off the bench, but a scoreless stretch of over four minutes in the third quarter proved fatal. The Timberwolves trimmed it to 97-95 late before Denver pulled clear.
⚠️ INJURY ALERT — Anthony Edwards: Game-Time Decision (Knee). Edwards played 38+ minutes in Game 1 but remains listed as GTD for tonight. His availability is the single biggest variable in this game.
Game 1 Result: Denver 116–105 Minnesota
- Q1: MIN 33 – DEN 23 (Minnesota led by 12)
- Q2: MIN 29 – DEN 39
- Q3: MIN 17 – DEN 29 (Denver's 17-2 run; MIN scoreless 4+ mins)
- Q4: MIN 26 – DEN 25
I've got everything you need for game two in the series on Free Bets with some betting tips at the end of this piece.
Team Overview — Regular Season Stats
Denver Nuggets
- Record: 54-28 (3rd in the Western Conference) — 13-game win streak
- Points For: 122.1 per game (4th in NBA)
- Points Against: 116.9 per game
- FG%: 49.6% (2nd in NBA)
- Assists Per Game: 29.0 (1st in NBA)
- 3-Point %: 39.6%
- Offensive Rating: 122.6 (2nd in NBA)
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Record: 49-33 (6th in the Western Conference)
- Points For: 118.0 per game
- Points Against: 114.6 per game (3rd best in NBA)
- FG%: 48.1%
- Assists Per Game: 26.1
- Blocks Per Game: 5.8
- Steals Per Game: 8.7
Recent Form — Last 5 Games
Key Players — Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokić | Centre · #15 · 3× MVP
GP: 65 | PPG: 27.7 | RPG: 12.9 | APG: 10.7 | FG%: 56.9% | 3P%: 38.0% | FT%: 83.1%
Game 1: 25 pts, 13 reb, 11 ast — triple-double, played through a bloody nose in a rough physical contest.
Jokić produced a crucial five-point stretch late to put the game away when Minnesota trimmed the deficit to two with 6:23 remaining. He is now 22 career playoff triple-doubles and averaged 35.8/15.0/11.3 against Minnesota across the four regular season meetings.
There is nothing in Minnesota's defensive arsenal to stop him, and with Murray yet to find his three-point range, Jokić will again be the primary offensive engine tonight.
Jamal Murray | Guard · #27 · 2026 All-Star
GP: 75 | PPG: 25.4 | APG: 7.1 | FG%: 48.3% | 3P%: 43.5% | FT%: 88.7%
Game 1: 30 pts on 0-for-8 from three — sustained entirely by 16-of-16 free throws and relentless aggression to the basket.
Murray was the best player on the floor despite shooting ice cold from deep, which is a deeply concerning sign for Minnesota heading into Game 2. His halfcourt shot late in the fourth grazed the rim to reset the shot clock and led to a Gordon dunk that put the game out of reach.
If Murray finds his three-point shooting tonight, this game could become very one-sided very quickly.
Aaron Gordon | Power Forward · #20
PPG: 16.2 | GP: 36 (limited)
Game 1: 17 pts despite picking up three fouls in the first quarter. Gordon's early foul trouble was directly linked to Denver falling into a 12-point hole when he was on the bench, Minnesota took control.
When he was free to play physically, Denver dominated. His foul management in Game 2 is a key subplot. A clean first half from Gordon likely means a comfortable Denver win.
Key Players — Minnesota Timberwolves
⚠️ ANTHONY EDWARDS — GAME-TIME DECISION (Knee) | 22 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast in Game 1 despite sore right knee | Listed as GTD for Game 2
Edwards was defiant post-Game 1, setting the Timberwolves' all-time career postseason assists record in the process.
He played through visible discomfort and still produced a significant line, but shot just 2-of-9 from three, a reflection of the limitations the knee is placing on his explosiveness.
Whether he plays 38 minutes, 25 minutes, or not at all tonight will define Minnesota's ceiling in this game entirely.
Julius Randle | Power Forward · #30
GP: 79 | PPG: 21.1 | RPG: 6.7 | APG: 5.0 | FG%: 48.1% | 3P%: 31.5%
Randle was outmuscled in Game 1 and struggled to generate consistent offence against Denver's length. He picked up a late technical foul which reflected Minnesota's growing frustration.
He needs a much more assertive Game 2 performance, particularly in the first half when the game is still competitive.
If Minnesota are to stay in this series, Randle must become a genuine first option rather than an afterthought.
Rudy Gobert | Centre · #27 · 4× DPOY
GP: 76 | PPG: 10.9 | RPG: 11.5 | BPG: 1.6 | FG%: 68.2% (NBA leader)
Gobert's defensive presence kept Minnesota alive at various points in the first half of Game 1, but Jokić pulls him away from the paint with his passing and mid-range game in a way very few centres can combat.
Minnesota allowed just 108.6 pts/100 with Gobert on the floor versus Denver in the regular season, still their best defensive configuration available, but the matchup between him and Jokić remains heavily one-sided.
Nuggets vs Timberwolves Betting Tips - Game 2
With the latest odds from betting sites, and picks for game two, check out my betting predictions for this game below.
Betting Tip 1 -Denver Nuggets to Win Game 2
Denver are at home, on a 13-game winning streak, and their best player hasn't even played to his ceiling yet. Minnesota face an Edwards fitness question that could define the entire evening.
The Nuggets won Game 1 without Murray hitting a single three, their margin for improvement is considerably larger than Minnesota's. A Denver home win here is the highest-probability outcome on the board.
Betting Tip 2 - Under 230.5 Total Points
Game 1 finished at 221 combined, well under the total that night. Both teams play physical, defence-oriented basketball, and Minnesota's offence is compromised without a fully fit Edwards.
The 230.5 total feels generous given the style of play this series has already established. The under is worth backing again.
Betting Tip 3 - Jamal Murray Points Over 26.5
Murray was 0-for-8 from three in Game 1 and still scored 30, entirely on free throws and drives. He shoots 43.5% from three on the season and his points prop is likely to be set conservatively given that cold shooting night.
Any regression toward the mean from deep makes him extremely dangerous. His points line is the standout player prop of the game.
Betting Tip 4 - Nikola Jokić Triple-Double
Jokić posted a triple-double in Game 1 and averaged 35.8/15.0/11.3 against Minnesota across the regular season.
At home in a series he is controlling, another 10-assist, 10-rebound performance is well within range. At the right price in the player specials market, it is a strong inclusion.
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