Last Updated on September 11, 2024 by Mathew Diekhake

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets have had a competitive but less historic rivalry compared to other teams. Their rivalry intensified in recent years due to key regular-season matchups and playoff meetings. Here’s a timeline of their most significant games and moments:

1990s

  • Mid-1990s Regular Season:
    During this period, both teams were mostly rebuilding, with the Timberwolves still a young franchise (established in 1989) and the Nuggets going through ups and downs. The Nuggets were notable for their shocking upset of the No. 1-seeded Seattle SuperSonics in the 1994 playoffs, but they never had significant interactions with the Timberwolves in the postseason during this time.

2000s – The Kevin Garnett Era

  • 2003-2004 Season:
    This was a breakout season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, led by Kevin Garnett, who won the NBA MVP that year. The Timberwolves finished with the best record in the Western Conference, while the Nuggets, led by rookie Carmelo Anthony, made the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. However, the teams did not face each other in the playoffs. The Wolves reached the Western Conference Finals, their deepest postseason run, while Denver was eliminated in the first round.

2010s

  • Regular Season Matchups:
    Both teams went through rebuilding phases for much of the 2010s. Denver had a solid run early in the decade under George Karl, while Minnesota struggled to get back to the playoffs after Garnett’s departure in 2007. The games during this period were competitive, but no significant rivalry developed.
  • 2018 Regular Season Finale (April 11, 2018):
    One of the most intense moments in the rivalry came in the final game of the 2017-2018 regular season. Both teams were fighting for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference, and the matchup was essentially a “win or go home” situation. The game went into overtime, and the Timberwolves, led by Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler, defeated the Nuggets 112-106 to clinch their first playoff appearance in 14 years. Denver, led by Nikola Jokić, narrowly missed the playoffs. This game marked the beginning of a new competitive chapter in their rivalry.

2020s

  • Regular Season Rivalry Intensifies:
    With both teams building competitive rosters, their regular-season matchups in the 2020s were highly competitive. Denver, led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokić, and Minnesota, led by Karl-Anthony Towns and the emerging Anthony Edwards, were often jockeying for playoff seeding.
  • 2022-2023 Regular Season:
    The Nuggets finished the season as the top seed in the Western Conference, while the Timberwolves fought through injuries and inconsistencies but managed to make the playoffs through the Play-In Tournament.
  • 2023 NBA Playoffs (Western Conference First Round):
    The two teams met for the first time in the playoffs during the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The No. 1 seed Denver Nuggets faced the No. 8 seed Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. Denver won the series 4-1, with Nikola Jokić dominating the series. The Nuggets’ depth and Jokić’s playmaking were too much for the Timberwolves, who fought hard but were unable to extend the series beyond five games. Denver went on to win their first-ever NBA Championship later that postseason, defeating the Miami Heat in the Finals.

Key Themes in the Rivalry:

  • 2018 Play-In Drama: The 2018 regular season finale was a pivotal moment that intensified the rivalry. Minnesota’s dramatic overtime win denied Denver a playoff berth and reignited competition between the two teams.
  • Nikola Jokić vs. Karl-Anthony Towns: In recent years, the matchup between the two All-Star big men, Jokić and Towns, has been a highlight of the rivalry. Jokić’s all-around play and MVP awards have made him a dominant figure, while Towns is regarded as one of the best offensive big men in the league.
  • 2023 Playoff Showdown: The 2023 playoff series further solidified the rivalry, with the Nuggets proving their superiority during their championship run, but the Timberwolves showing potential for future growth, especially with young star Anthony Edwards.

The Timberwolves-Nuggets rivalry has gained momentum in the past decade, marked by intense regular-season matchups and their first-ever playoff meeting in 2023. With both teams expected to remain competitive, this rivalry could continue to grow in the coming years.

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