Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction: Will the Nuggets sweep the series?

The NBA Playoffs have brought top-notch action to us and we have seen a lot of fun match-ups already that have led to upsets. This means that the higher-ranked teams will need to re-orient their approach in this intensity-infused atmosphere. However, the Denver Nuggets avoided an upset as they pulverized the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1. Will that repeat in Game 2?

The Nuggets meted a 109:80 loss to the Wolves in Game 1 and this was surely a statement win. The Nuggets were kept from getting loose after the first quarter, with the Timberwolves being within three points. However, from there on, this turned into one-way traffic as the Timberwolves extended the lead to 11 in the first half. It was the third quarter that buried Minnesota when the Nuggets had a 32:14 third quarter. The Nuggets made 16 triples and shot 41% from deep and had a decisive 54:38 rebounding advantage.

Jamal Murray had a strong game, picking up 24 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds. Nikola Jokic had 14 rebounds and 6 assists. Jokic, Michael Porter Jr., Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Aaron Gordon, and Bruce Brown scored in the 13-18 points range to highlight a balanced effort. Meanwhile, the Wolves lacked both the zip and the balance. The team shot just 37% and Anthony Edwards led with 18 points. Karl Anthony-Towns shot just 5/15(1/7 from deep). Rudy Gobert was the leading rebounder with 13 of them whereas both Kyle Anderson and Jaylen Nowell scored 10+ off the bench.

• Nuggets: OUT: Collin Gillespie. QUESTIONABLE: Nikola Jokic;
• Timberwolves: OUT: Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels. QUESTIONABLE: Rudy Gobert, Jaylen Nowell.

• Expected Leading Scorers: Nikola Jokic(25+ Points), Anthony Edwards(25-31 Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Nikola Jokic(13+ Rebounds)-QUES, Rudy Gobert(11-14 Rebounds)-QUES;
• Expected Leading Playmakers: Nikola Jokic(8-11 Assists)- QUES, Mike Conley(6-8 Assists).

The Nuggets made a meal out of the Wolves in the first game and the difference in depth was clear. The Timberwolves did make it to the Playoffs but their vulnerabilities were on full display in the first game, the biggest problem was identifying the defensive scheme against a loaded offensive squad. The inability to score will hurt the Wolves against the Nuggets. That’s why I predict the Nuggets to win here whether Jokic plays or not.