Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets: Predictions, Odds and Roster Notes

What: Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets

Where: Pepsi Center in Denver, CO

When: Tuesday, March 12th at 10:30 PM EST

How (TV/Radio): TNT | 830 WCCO, KKSE-FM 92.5/KKSE 950

Denver Nuggets (Home)

Head Coach: Michael Malone {All-Time 201-216 | SAC, DEN}

The Denver Nuggets are as strong as ever, sitting second in the Western Conference with a record of 43-22. They have been dominant at home, boasting a record of 27-6 in the Mile High City. They will look to punish their opponents the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Denver Nuggets have lost a step as of late, allowing the Houston Rockets to come within 2.5 games of them in the Western Conference Standings. Recent losses to the Spurs, Lakers, and Warriors ill-represent their talent and they will be certain to try and get back on track against the Timberwolves.

Denver takes on a Minnesota team riding high off a simple win over the lowly New York Knicks. While the season hasn’t come together the way the Wolves wanted, they have a number of threats on the court at all times. Karl-Anthony Towns is the focal point while wings Andrew Wiggins and Derrick Rose are always players to keep an eye on. It won’t be an easy night for the Nuggets if they can’t limit those players.

Minnesota Timberwolves (Away)

Head Coach: Ryan Saunders {All-Time 12-14 | MIN}

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a tough position going into this match against the Denver Nuggets. They hold a record of 32-35 but are six games out of the playoffs in the West. They would need a tremendous run and a shocking drop from the Clippers, Spurs, and Kings if they want to make the post-season.

The Wolves have also failed to inspire much confidence in their play as of late, posting a record of 5-5 in their last ten games. While they recently won an overtime thriller against the Wizards, losses to the Hawks, Pacers, and Pistons have left them in a hole.

The Wolves now face off against one of the best in the West in the Denver Nuggets. Their play is fantastic and they are able to attack in isolation or in team play. Altitude is also a factor for the Denver Nuggets as they house likely the most inhospitable home arena in the league. The Wolves have an uphill battle.

What’s At Stake?

The Denver Nuggets have dominated the all-time series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 124 regular season games, the Denver Nuggets lead the Minnesota Timberwolves 75-49.

A win for the Minnesota Timberwolves would bring them to 33-35 and only 5.5 games out of the Western Conference playoffs.

A win for the Denver Nuggets would raise them to three games above the Houston Rockets and just one game back from the Golden State Warriors.

Questions to answer

Can the Timberwolves overcome their schedule?

Why couldn’t the Nuggets hold against the Warriors?

We are going to compare the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets in an attempt to see who has the advantage in this matchup.

The Timberwolves Get No Breaks

While the Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off of a comfortable victory over the New York Knicks, it isn’t all sunshine when they look forward at their schedule. Already at the mercy of the Kings in the Western Conference table, the Timberwolves need to take advantage of every opportunity if they want to make the playoffs.

The Timberwolves top competition for the remainder of the season is as follows: Nuggets (twice), Jazz, Rockets, Warriors (twice), Clippers, 76ers, Blazers, Thunder, Raptors. Of their last fourteen games, eleven of those games will be against top-tier competition in their respective conferences.

Frankly speaking it doesn’t look like the Timberwolves have a chance to make the playoffs. After a dreadful start, they’ve attempted to recover but injuries and inconsistent play have set them back greatly. There’s still a chance, but the Wolves would need to go on a run of epic proportions.

The Nuggets Lost A Crucial Game To The Warriors

It was the second blow out loss for the Denver Nuggets against the reigning champions and current Western Conference rivals the Golden State Warriors. Denver played inspiring basketball, they were able to overcome a deficit but they once again faltered under the pressure and failed to perform against the Warriors.

Most notably for the Nuggets is that their shooting was abysmal all game long. Shot distribution was odd all game, resulting in Malik Beasley leading the team in field-goal attempts with fourteen. As a whole the Nuggets failed to convert consistently, leading to a 38% night from the field and a 36% night from deep.

The biggest criticism of the Nuggets is that they have nobody to throw it to when the going gets tough. They are a team built to play together, but when the game slows down and Jokic can’t operate with movement, the Denver offence stalls. They will need to prove they can solve this problem, or else it may haunt them in the playoffs.

Denver Nuggets Roster Notes

F Trey Lyles – 3 Mar 2019 – Out (Left Hamstring Strain) – Lyles will not play in teams upcoming three-game road trip. The Nuggets are eyeing a March 12th return.

F Michael Porter – 13 Feb 2019 – Out (Back) – Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has not ruled out a return this year for Porter Jr., according to Harrison Wind of BSN Denver.

Minnesota Timberwolves Roster Notes

F Robert Covington – 6 Mar 2019 – Out (Ankle) – Interim head coach Ryan Saunders said there is no timetable for Covington’s return to action, according to Jace Frederick of Twincities.com.

F Luol Deng – 9 Mar 2019 – Day To Day (Sore Left Achilles) – Deng has been ruled OUT for Saturday’s game (Mar. 9) against the Wizards.

C Karl-Anthony Towns – 9 Mar 2019 – Day To Day (Leg) – Towns left Saturday’s (Mar 9) game with an apparent leg injury and will not return.

F Andrew Wiggins – 9 Mar 2019 – Day To Day (Quad) – Wiggins has been ruled OUT for Saturday’s (Mar 9) game.

Head-to-Head: Derrick Rose (MIN) vs Isaiah Thomas (DEN)

It will be a battle of the forgotten All-NBA point guards when Derrick Rose and Isaiah Thomas look to inspire their respective benches to victory in this matchup. Derrick Rose has had a career resurgence this season and has shown his clutch nature in recent matches. Isaiah Thomas, on the other hand, is still making his way back slowly, but his role has increased with every game.

Derrick Rose

Point Guard | 6-3, 200lb (190cm, 90kg) | Memphis | Exp. 9 Years

18.3 PPG | 4.4 APG | 2.8 RPG | 0.6 SPG | 0.2 BPG | 1.6 TOV | .483 FG% | .370 3P%

Is there any story in the NBA more inspiring that Derrick Rose’s at the moment? Coming back from incredible odds, Rose is proving himself to be as incredible as always. Highlighted by a 29-point performance in an overtime win against the Washington Wizards, Derrick Rose is clearly the leader of the Wolves bench. The Wolves will need all the offense they can get going forward and Derrick Rose is certainly a player they should lean on.

Isaiah Thomas

Point Guard | 5-9, 185lb (175cm, 83kg) | Washington | Exp. 7 Years

8.6 PPG | 1.7 APG | 1.3 RPG | 0.4 SPG | 0.1 BPG | 1.8 TOV | .373 FG% | .273 3P%

Isaiah Thomas has only recently been getting back into the rotation for the Denver Nuggets. It is a slow process, not playing more than fifteen minutes in eight of his last nine matches. But Thomas has shown veteran composure and a willingness to shoot the ball. With such a long layoff it will be a while before he gets his legs under him, but it is crucial he gets these minutes in before the NBA Playoffs. Thomas won’t be shy and we certainly know that any night could be the one where he breaks out.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets Predictions and Odds

The oddsmakers have the Denver Nuggets favored over the Minnesota Timberwolves by 10.5, with an over/under of 109.