DENVER — The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves are preparing to play the third playoff series between the two Western Conference franchises.
Here's a look at how the teams have fared against each other in the previous series and over the last couple of regular seasons.
Nuggets vs. Timberwolves playoff history
The first series between the franchises in the First Round of the 2004 Playoffs ended with the Nuggets losing 4-1.
Kevin Garnett led the way for the Wolves, averaging 25.8 points, 14.8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks and a steal over five games, according to Basketball Reference. Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell provided support, especially in the scoring department, with both averaging about 20 points per game.
Voshon Lenard was the leading scoring for the Nuggets, averaging 17 points per game. Carmelo Anthony, a 19-year-old rookie at the time, averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
The second series between the two teams was much more recent. The Nuggets returned the 4-1 First Round defeat nearly 20 years earlier by delivering one of their own, on their way the the franchise's first NBA title.
Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic averaged 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, 9 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.4 blocks while leading the Nuggets to victory in five games, while Jamal Murray averaged a healthy 27.2 points per game to provide scoring support.
Anthony Edwards scored 31.6 points per game in an effort to combat the eventual NBA champions.
The Timberwolves roster is largely the same as the previous season's series as Edwards, Karl Anthony-Towns, Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley were all returning as starters.
Over the last two regular seasons, the Nuggets and Timberwolves have played each other even with 4 wins each dating back to January 2023, according to StatMuse.
Nuggets vs. Timberwolves career stats
Here are the stats some of the key players have averaged in the matchup over their careers, via StateMuse:
- Nikola Jokic vs. Timberwolves (34 games): 21.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists
- Jamal Murray (21 games): 19.1 points 4.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds
- Michael Porter Jr.: 13.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists
- Aaron Gordon (25 games): 12.8 points, 6 rebounds, 3.5 assists
- Anthony Edwards vs. Nuggets (15 games): 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists
- Karl Anthony-Towns (23 games): 24 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists
- Rudy Gobert (32 games): 13.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocks
- Mike Conley (47 games): 13.8 points, 5.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds
Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals tips off Saturday at 5 p.m. Mountain Time at Ball Arena in Denver.
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