{"id":712750,"date":"2026-04-17T22:24:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T22:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/712750\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T22:24:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T22:24:29","slug":"nuggets-timberwolves-set-for-fourth-nba-playoff-meeting-2026-nuggets-playoff-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/712750\/","title":{"rendered":"Nuggets-Timberwolves set for fourth NBA playoff meeting | 2026 Nuggets Playoff Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

The rivalry between the Nuggets and Timberwolves has heated up in the last few seasons.<\/p>\n

The rivals will meet at Ball Arena for Game 1 of their Western Conference first round matchup Saturday. It\u2019s the fourth time the teams will play in the postseason with two of those series coming in the last three years.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look back at the teams\u2019 previous matchups: <\/p>\n

2004 Western Conference first round<\/p>\n

Result: No. 1 Timberwolves 4, No. 8 Nuggets 1<\/p>\n

What happened: The Nuggets returned to the playoffs for the first time since the 1994-95 season. Rookie Carmelo Anthony led Denver to the No. 8 seed and a matchup with Kevin Garnett and top-seeded Minnesota. The Nuggets lost the first two games on the road before routing the Timberwolves in Game 3. Denver dropped a close Game 4 before being eliminated in five games.<\/p>\n

2023 Western Conference first round<\/p>\n

Result: No. 1 Nuggets 4, No. 8 Timberwolves 1<\/p>\n

What happened: The opening series in Denver\u2019s run to the NBA title was tougher than the 4-1 outcome suggests. Denver routed Minnesota in Game 1 but the rest of the games were tight, including an overtime Game 4 overtime win on the road for the Nuggets, where Nikola Jokic had 43 points. Anthony Edwards missed a game-tying shot at the buzzer in Game 5 as Denver held on to close out the series.<\/p>\n

\"\"Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/p>\n

2024 Western Conference semifinals<\/p>\n

Results: No. 3 Timberwolves 4, No. 2 Nuggets 3<\/p>\n

What happened: A strange series to say the least. The Timberwolves won the first two games in Denver, but the Nuggets rallied to take both games in Minnesota. Denver rolled in Game 5 before Minnesota dominated Game 6. The Nuggets jumped all over the Timberwolves in Game 7 before blowing a 20-point lead to fall at Ball Arena.<\/p>\n


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