{"id":714726,"date":"2026-04-20T18:33:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T18:33:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/714726\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T18:33:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T18:33:37","slug":"timberwolves-get-suprisingly-good-news-for-game-2-vs-nuggets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/714726\/","title":{"rendered":"Timberwolves Get Suprisingly Good News For Game 2 Vs Nuggets"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Anthony\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

DENVER, COLORADO – APRIL 18: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up prior to playing the Denver Nuggets in Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. <\/p>\n

The Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a> lost Game 1 of their first-round playoff series to the Denver Nuggets<\/a>, while star player Anthony Edwards<\/a> continues to work back from a knee injury.<\/p>\n

Edwards was questionable<\/a> for that first game due to the knee injury, and while he did end up playing, scoring just 22 points, he is once again questionable in the lead-up to Game 2<\/a> on Monday night.<\/p>\n

However, while the Timberwolves did lose the first matchup of the series against the Nuggets, history shows that they have a strong chance of evening the series after the second game.<\/p>\n

Timberwolves Get Good News For Game 2 of Playoffs vs Nuggets<\/p>\n

First shared by Bennett Durando of the Denver Post<\/a>, the Nuggets hold just a 1-4 record in their last five playoff Game 2\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Nuggets are 8-1 in Game 1s dating back to 2023,\u201d he wrote after Denver\u2019s opening game win of the series. \u201cThey\u2019re also 1-4 in their last five Game 2s, the only win requiring a 20-point second half comeback at home and a buzzer beater.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Nuggets are 8-1 in Game 1s dating back to 2023. <\/p>\n

They\u2019re also 1-4 in their last five Game 2s, the only win requiring a 20-point second half comeback at home and a buzzer beater.<\/p>\n

While the Nuggets have a stellar history in recent Game 1\u2019s, the stat about their performance in the following matchup could be seen as a bit nit-picky. Durando\u2019s stat only includes their last five series, which doesn\u2019t take into account<\/a> the opening rounds of the 2023 Playoffs, where they went on to win the title.<\/p>\n

However, in the past two seasons, Denver has only one Game 2 once, and while they looked strong against the Timberwolves to begin the series, Minnesota has a chance to bounce back with recent history on their side.<\/p>\n

According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic<\/a>, despite the loss, the Timberwolves still have a lot of hope.<\/p>\n

Anthony Edwards Injury Update For Game 2\"Anthony<\/p>\n

GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS \u2013 APRIL 10: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves brings the ball up court against the Houston Rockets<\/a> during the second half at Toyota Center on April 10, 2026 in Houston, Texas.<\/p>\n

Any chance Minnesota has of winning this series relies heavily on Edwards being healthy, which right now, is not the case.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

The star has been dealing with a knee injury for over a month, and while he did suit up for Game 1, he and his team said the 24-year-old was noticeably not himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt good,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cI mean, a little fatigued. I haven\u2019t played in like a month, a month and a half, so a little fatigued. But that was expected. Other than that, I felt good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Head coach Chris Finch added that this is the first time he\u2019s seen Edwards not at full strength.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the first year that I\u2019ve ever seen anything different where he\u2019s been frustrated by not feeling 100 percent,\u201d Finch said. \u201cHe\u2019s always played through little injuries, but I think this one, more than ever, felt it impinged the way he was able to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Edwards did have 22 points, but went 7\/19 from the field and 2\/9 from three-point range. As both he and Finch said, perhaps conditioning had something to due with his relative off-night in Game 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought he got tired in the third [quarter]; it\u2019s why I pulled him a little bit earlier,\u201d Finch added postgame<\/a>. \u201cHe had some good looks throughout the game. The touch maybe wasn\u2019t there. It wasn\u2019t the Ant we\u2019re used to seeing, but it was as expected in terms of where he is in trying to find his rhythm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Edwards is questionable for Game 2<\/a>, but there is the expectation that, like on Saturday, he will play on Monday night. Still, he has yet to get back to 100%, and until he does, it\u2019ll be an uphill battle for the Timberwolves going forward.<\/p>\n

Minnesota @Timberwolves<\/a> Status Report in advance of tomorrow\u2019s Game 2 at Denver Nuggets: <\/p>\n

QUESTIONABLE
\nEdwards- Right Knee Injury Maintenance<\/p>\n

He is the only player listed on their injury report, while the Nuggets will be without Peyton Watson.<\/a><\/p>\n

With recent history on their side, the Timberwolves face the Nuggets in Game 2 on Monday, April 20, at 9:30 pm CST and live on NBC\/Peacock.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEli Gregorski<\/a> is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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