DENVER — After a four-day break, the Nuggets are ready to continue the chase for their second straight banner.
After beating the Lakers in five games in the first round, Denver hosts the third seeded Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena, starting Saturday.
"I think everybody’s ready," head coach Michael Malone said. "It was good to have a break. It’s kind of like leading up to Round 1, you had that week to prepare, I’m sure same thing for them. Let’s get this series started. It’s gonna be a madhouse tomorrow night and looking forward to that atmosphere."
An atmosphere that young Timberwolves phenom Anthony Edwards, will be looking to dominate. He averaged 31 points per game in Minnesota’s first round sweep of the Phoenix Suns.
"He’s amazing," gushed Nikola Jokic at practice Friday. "He’s really a dangerous player. Really talented player who can do everything, who has everything actually. Hopefully we’re gonna have some fun too."
The Nuggets beat the Timberwolves in five games during their first round series last year. Edwards remembers the disappointment he felt after losing to the eventual NBA champions.
"It was all the motivation I needed," Edwards said. "I took a little pressure off myself after they won the championship. Like I lost to the Championship team. But yeah I don’t like that feeling at all. Hopefully we play them a little tougher this time."
By sweeping the Suns, Minnesota won its first playoff series in 20 years. It’s taken the franchise a long time to get to this point, sort of reminiscent of the current Denver Nuggets squad: a very talented core that takes time to build into a contender. Nuggets sharp shooter Michael Porter Jr sees the comparisons between the two organizations.
"Just a team that believes they have all the pieces to do something special and they haven’t done it yet," he said. "You definitely see the way they’re playing right now, just the hunger. We’re really excited."
Tip-off for Game 1 at Ball Arena is at 5 p.m. (MT) Saturday night.
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