{"id":714501,"date":"2026-04-20T09:46:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T09:46:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/714501\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T09:46:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T09:46:22","slug":"preview-nuggets-need-to-be-better-in-game-2-to-preserve-homecourt-advantage-over-the-wolves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/714501\/","title":{"rendered":"Preview: Nuggets need to be better in Game 2 to preserve homecourt advantage over the Wolves"},"content":{"rendered":"

Game 1 of Timberwolves vs. Nuggets III had many of the same elements we\u2019ve come to expect from this matchup: physicality, runs, Nikola Joki\u0107 being unbothered by Rudy Gobert. Minnesota added a new wrinkle to the rivalry this year, though, calling out the officiating after just 60 minutes of losing play. Of particular outrage seemed to be a collective delusion that Jamal Murray\u2014one of the most ethical guards in a league rewarding grifters\u2014was foul-baiting, with a natural three-point shot being submitted as indisputable evidence by Wolves\u2019 fans:<\/p>\n

The Wolves have plenty of self-inflicted issues\u2026<\/p>\n

But this is embarrassing for the NBA.<\/p>\n

Watch as Jamal Murray *obviously* extends + turns his feet to hunt for a flop.<\/p>\n

This was called A FLAGRANT FOUL on Jaden McDaniels \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02 pic.twitter.com\/IHm1IiY5ON<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Phil Mackey \ud83c\udf99 (@PhilMackey) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

To be fair, Minnesota needed to come up with plausible cope because, after throwing a first-quarter punch, they were increasingly outmatched as the game progressed. Jamal was getting anywhere he wanted as he racked up a +13 line of 30\/5\/7. AG looked fully healthy and physically imposing. And the Joker, who got off to a slow start, ended up with a 25-point triple-double that seemed almost effortless. All of this as the Nuggets shot 2-91 from three.<\/p>\n

Monday night\u2019s rematch should showcase a better Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, both of whom had sub-standard playoff performances in Game 1. Ant doesn\u2019t seem 100%, but even hampered, he\u2019s one of the most game-changing scorers in the league. If Gobert continues to give the Wolves 17\/10, too, the series is far from over. But the Nuggets also have another level to get to that they only sniffed in the opening salvo. Game 2 may very well set the tone for how the rest of the series will play out. <\/p>\n

The Basics<\/p>\n

Who: Denver Nuggets (54-28) vs Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33)<\/p>\n

Series: 1-0, Denver<\/p>\n

When: 8:30 PM MST<\/p>\n

Where: Ball Arena, Denver<\/p>\n

How to watch\/listen: NBC \/ Peacock \/ 92.5 FM<\/p>\n

Rival Blog: Canis Hoopus<\/a><\/p>\n

Injury Report | Nuggets: Peyton Watson\u2014out (hamstring)<\/p>\n

Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards\u2014probable (knee)<\/p>\n

Anthony Edwards was reportedly \u201cclearly limited\u201d and \u201claboring\u201d in Game 1 because of a lingering right knee injury, per @JonKrawczynski<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He has a runner\u2019s knee, which is the same injury that sidelined Steph Curry for months. \ud83d\ude2c pic.twitter.com\/mjgeImAIM5<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Three Things<\/p>\n

The thing to watch for: Can the Nuggets improve their shooting efficiency from deep?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s still hard to believe Murray was 0-8 from three in a game where Minnesota had no answers for him. Mal wasn\u2019t alone, though\u2014collectively, the Nuggets shot just10-36 from outside (27.8%), which is quite a departure for the NBA\u2019s most efficient three-point shooting team.<\/p>\n

This season, the Nuggets had 10 different players shoot 38% or better from three-point range (min. 100 attempts). <\/p>\n

No other team in NBA history has had 8+ players do that in the same season. pic.twitter.com\/owUcer8MPl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jake Coyne (@TheStatSquatch) April 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Mean reversion seems likely, though, as Minnesota\u2019s defense didn\u2019t contribute much to the shot variance. The Nuggets got open looks throughout the game, but only three of their lowest volume shooters (Bruce Brown, Christian Braun, and Spencer Jones) were hitting while Joki\u0107, Murray, Johnson, and AG combined to go 5-27. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to imagine this team getting far without a reversion back to the norm, but it\u2019s equally hard to imagine a team averaging just under 40% for the season falling off so dramatically for an entire series. If the trend continues in Game 2, though, the Nuggets will become much more vulnerable to a streaky Wolves squad that can score in bunches (and with range) when they find their groove. <\/p>\n

The thing to remember: The Nuggets had a 20-point lead in a Game 7 against Minnesota the last time these teams met in the Playoffs<\/p>\n

Not that anyone is claiming the series is over after one game, but Nuggets fans would do well to remember that these teams have played a lot of tight playoff games this decade. This series has been weird as many of the games have been defined by massive runs and momentum shifts\u2014both intra-game and between games. Even in the Nuggets 4-1 series win in their championship run, every game could\u2019ve swung differently on just a handful of plays.<\/p>\n

\"\"Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) reacts after drawing a foul on Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) during the second half in game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Both rosters present unique problems for the other that tend to snowball, and this series is likely to follow a similar trajectory. Expect a much better Ant performance in Game 2, e.g., which can expose some of the Nuggets\u2019 main defensive weaknesses on the perimeter and with rim protection. Maybe a bit more than 0 points from Bones is coming, too, since the scorned guard is dying to land a few body blows in this matchup. Randle was essentially invisible in Game 1, as well, which also seems unlikely to continue.<\/p>\n

Each game is going to be it\u2019s own saga, though. That\u2019s just how this matchup seems to go. Monday night will likely be no different, so if the Nuggets don\u2019t shoot better from deep and adjust well to the Timberwolves\u2019 revised game plan, Minnesota could leave Denver with the upper hand in the series. <\/p>\n

The thing to bet: Two-Man Parlay | Joki\u0107 triple-double & Murray +9.5 assists<\/p>\n

The ease with which Nikola got his 22nd playoff triple-double seems to be a leading indicator for the kind of numbers he\u2019ll continue putting up this series. Murray\u2019s assists could see an uptick in the next game, however, as Minnesota will likely revise their defensive scheme to keep the ball out of his hands more, especially early, which could give Mal a higher assist total than average. As always, though, parlay\u2019s pay because they\u2019re hard to hit, so size responsibly and DYOR. <\/p>\n

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