**Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets**
**Date:** March 12th, 2025
**Time:** 9:00 PM CST
**Location:** Ball Arena
**Television Coverage:** ESPN/FanDuel Sports Network North
**Radio Coverage:** KFAN FM/Wolves App/iHeart Radio
### **Wolves vs. Nuggets: A Heavyweight Bout in the Mile High City**
The Minnesota Timberwolves are rolling. Winners of five straight, fully healthy for the first time in months, and finally looking like the team that could cause some serious damage in the playoffs. But now comes the real test: a road trip to Denver to take on Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
No more bottom-feeder matchups. No more easy wins against teams racing for the lottery. If the Wolves are truly ready to take that next step and shake off the inconsistent, frustrating season that’s defined them for months, this game will be a defining moment.
Denver wants revenge. Minnesota wants validation. Let’s break it all down.
### **The Wolves Are Finally at Full Strength—But Are They Ready for This?**
For the first time in what feels like forever, the Wolves have no one listed on the injury report.
Julius Randle is back and has finally figured out how to fit into this system. Rudy Gobert’s back spasms seem to be a thing of the past. Mike Conley is running the offense like the steady veteran he is. Donte DiVincenzo has found his groove as a shooter. Jaden McDaniels is playing with aggression and confidence. And, of course, Anthony Edwards continues to be a walking highlight reel.
The Wolves have looked dominant over the past five games, but let’s be honest—they’ve been feasting on cupcakes.
* San Antonio (without Wemby)? Win.
* Miami (Jimmy Butler traded away)? Win.
* Charlotte? Philadelphia? Wins.
These were games Minnesota was supposed to win. And to their credit, they did. But this is different.
Denver is a real test. The Nuggets have lost two straight to Minnesota this season, including a 29-point blowout at Target Center in January. Jokic has been waiting ten months to take a whiff of revenge after last season’s playoff defeat in May.
Denver is coming off a big win over the Thunder and will be looking to make a statement. The Wolves need to match that energy—or they’re going to get run out of the building.
### **Keys to the Game: What the Wolves Need to Do to Win**
#### **1\. Slow Down Jokic (Or At Least Try To)**
Look, you’re not stopping Nikola Jokicć. It’s just not happening. But Tim Connelly built this team to give him problems.
The Gobert-Randle-Naz trio is the best combination of size, length, and defensive versatility you can throw at Jokić over the course of four quarters.
* Gobert is there to be the primary defender, contesting every shot and making Jokic work harder than usual.
* Randle is there to body him up and be physical in spurts.
* Naz? He’s the wildcard. If Jokic is getting tired, Naz can come in, stretch the floor, and force Denver to play small.
Minnesota has been able to wear Jokic down in the past. If they do it again, the Nuggets offense crumbles.
#### **2\. Don’t Let the Wings Kill You**
This is where Denver can kill you.
Jokic is a magnet for defenders—when he gets doubled, it leads to wide-open threes for guys like Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon.
The Wolves have to close out aggressively. They did a great job of this against Devin Booker, Luka Doncic, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earlier this year, forcing those guys into tough, contested shots.
If Murray, Gordon, or Porter Jr. gets hot from deep, it could be a long night for Minnesota.
#### **3\. Let Anthony Edwards Go to Work**
When the Wolves beat Denver by 29 in January, it was because Anthony Edwards dominated.
Edwards owns matchups against Jamal Murray who can’t handle his combination of size, strength, and athleticism.
The Wolves need aggressive Ant, not “let me settle for contested threes” Ant.
* Attack the rim.
* Get to the free-throw line.
* Put pressure on Denver’s defense early and often.
If Ant drops 30+, the Wolves have a real shot to steal this one.
#### **4\. Use the Bench to Wear Denver Down**
Denver’s depth is their biggest weakness. They’re not the same team that won the title in 2023
* Jeff Green? Gone.
* Bruce Brown? Gone.
* KCP? Also gone.
Meanwhile, the Wolves have one of the deepest teams in the league.
* Naz Reid can be an instant mismatch off the bench.
* Clark and Shannon Jr. bring energy and defense.
* NAW scraps and hustles his way to big plays on both ends of the floor
* DiVincenzo can single-handedly turn the lights out on opponents if he catches fire
If the Wolves push the pace and wear Denver down, their bench can swing this game.
### **Why This Game Matters: The Standings Are Tight**
This is a massive game for Minnesota.
Golden State isn’t slowing down.
Houston isn’t going to let up, especially with their weak schedule.
Memphis is struggling but still ahead of the Wolves.
Minnesota cannot afford to lose ground.
A win here keeps them in the hunt for the sixth seed and sends a message that they can beat elite teams on the road.
A loss? They stay stuck in play-in purgatory.
### **Prediction: Can the Wolves Take Denver Down Again?**
This is going to be a war.
Denver has everything to play for—home-court advantage, revenge against the Wolves, and a shot at securing the No. 2 seed.
The Wolves are playing their best basketball of the season, but they haven’t faced a team this good in a while.
My gut says this is going to be a nail-biter.
* If Ant goes nuclear and the Wolves defense frustrates Jokic, Minnesota can win this game outright.
* If Jokic does Jokic things and the Nuggets wings start hitting threes, this could be a reality check for Minnesota.
Final prediction? Wolves 112, Nuggets 109—a statement win that keeps Minnesota’s six-seed dream alive.
### Either way, this game will tell us everything we need to know about where the Wolves really stand.