The Denver Nuggets coming to town would typically be a welcome sight at Target Center for fans both watching in-person and on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ second nationally-televised game of the year.
However, just five days after the season opener in Portland, it would prove to be the first complete game test for a banged-up Minnesota squad missing their north star and on their first back-to-back of the season.
Averaging 23 points against the Nuggets in his career, Anthony Edwards is a notorious killer of the Nuggets and would certainly be big shoes to fill, always posing a matchup nightmare against a Denver team that has no matchups for him defensively.
The catch? Nikola Jokic and company went into Monday with the second-best offense in the league (124 offensive rating).
Chris Finch made the call to replace Edwards in the starting five with Mike Conley, sliding Donte DiVincenzo to the two guard spot to favor a floor general with a slew of points to be grabbed on the board by number five’s absence.
The Nuggets got things rolling with a 16-6 start, running up and down the floor on a discombobulated Wolves team offensively. Going to Julius Randle over and over again on Sunday night against the Indiana Pacers to an immaculate success rate, the Wolves strayed away from that with a heavy defensive emphasis on Randle, and tried to make plays through other channels.
It would be the newly christened starter in Conley that would jumpstart the Wolves offensively. Conley finished the first half with six points, three rebounds, four assists, doing it all and pushing the pace to allow others to get involved, too.
The main beneficiaries? The heavily scouted Randle and Jaden McDaniels, both with a matching 15 points, were heading into half with the Wolves leading 65-57.
Struggling to guard Nikola Jokic, but especially without Rudy Gobert on the floor, it played in the Wolves’ favor for the three-time MVP to get into foul trouble, racking up three by halftime.
He’d manage to stay within the rules in the second half, however, and start to make the Wolves pay without putting the ball in the basket that often.
The Wolves adjusted to bring quick help defense to Jokic in the third quarter due to being undersized, and he made them pay, spraying the ball out to willing shooters and tacking on three third-quarter assists. Tim Hardaway Jr. was a major beneficiary, lighting the Wolves up for 15 third-quarter points on 5-5 shooting.
Outmanned and not quite enough size to hold up to Denver, the Wolves would go on to let the rope slip from there. Julius Randle was held in check to just four second-half points, without much offense getting run through him; something that worked so well without Edwards in the lineup just a night earlier.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 27: Naz Reid #11 and Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves react to a foul call during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Target Center on October 27, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images) Getty Images
A (Defensive) Identity Crisis?
When should Chris Finch start to be concerned about the Wolves’ defensive identity on the heels of a 45 point Nugget third quarter and inconsistent defensive performances in three of the four games to start the season?
“Very concerned about it right now…we need our all-defensive guys to set the tone,” he mentioned after the game.
The Wolves posted a 187 defensive rating in the third quarter; an abhorrent tone being set for the second half and one of the roots of Finch’s frustration. It’s been a catalyst in the losses thus far, and a major reason that they haven’t been able to go on as many scoring runs as they typically do.
“Our principles are our principles, and that’s on us as players,” Mike Conley said after the game. “We have to figure out how to get back to being more aggressive on the ball.”
Screen navigation was a major issues; the Wolves got double dragged to death in the third quarter and let 43-point scorer Jamal Murray slice his way through the defense.
It’s where everything needs to start for Minnesota; they’re not good enough without Anthony Edwards to get into track meets, nor are they good enough to completely shut the lights off on other teams without his on-ball prowess. A strong, physical two-way game isn’t a “nice to have” for this team without their best player on the floor to bail them out of sticky situations.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 27: Tim Hardaway Jr. #10 of the Denver Nuggets pressures Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the third quarter at Target Center on October 27, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images) Getty Images
The Wolves found a way to go on their first meaningful scoring runs of the season in the first half. I think that’s notable. It just slipped in the second half alongside the defense, with guys starting to have their own agenda on the offenseive end and the ball ceasing to move around. Mike Conley affirmed as much after the game. But up until Monday, the Wolves did a lot of scoring while letting the other team score on the other end, and found themselves in track meets and clutch time situations because of it. If there’s a silver lining, this is it.There is a blueprint to win without Anthony Edwards while he’s out rehabbing. It’s called ball movement and Julius Randle. The Wolves almost completely stopped working through him in the second half, and you could tell he was slightly discouraged about his shot not falling. He needs to be the sun while Ant is out. There are plenty of capable shooters around him. We saw that. But they need to find their orbit around him, and stop with iso ball.Rob Dillingham actually gave legitimate minutes. Much of it was due to the injuries the Wolves were dealing with, but I thought he came in and gave a nice spark while moving the ball around quickly. I’d like him to be a bit more assertive with his shot, but I thought he certainly didn’t take himself off the table for future opportunities where Chris Finch decides his team needs a little offensive kick in the shorts.
Get used to it: the Wolves will host another nationally-televised game on Wednesday, once again against the Los Angeles Lakers. The game will be on ESPN and simulcast on FanDuel Sports North.
The Lakers will be without Luka Doncic, who scored 49 and decimated the Wolves on Friday at Crypto.com Arena, but after a recent Austin Reaves 50-piece against the Sacramento Kings, it poses a challenge for the two teams that will be without their best player.