The Minnesota Timberwolves (47-21) take on the Denver Nuggets (47-21) tonight in Minneapolis. Both of these teams are very good this season, and their records reflect that. The Timberwolves and the Nuggets are tied for 2nd in the West. This game will have huge implications come playoffs, and the winner of this game takes full control of 2nd in the West.
The Timberwolves will still be without Karl-Anthony Towns, their star 7-footer. Luckily, the Timberwolves do not lack size. Their other 7-foot player, and the leading candidate for defensive player of the year, Rudy Gobert, will be tasked with defending Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets are on their last game of a 4 game road trip and just lost to Dallas two nights ago. This matchup is going to be a fun one, watching 2 of the best teams in the NBA.
Can Minnesota win games on back-to-back nights?
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | MoneyLine |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +7 -108 |
O 213 -112 |
+225 |
| Denver Nuggets | -7 -112 |
U 213 -108 |
-278 |
| **Odds Courtesy of DraftKings** | |||
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Game Details
- Fixture: Denver Nuggets @ Minnesota Timberwolves
- Date and Time: March 19, 2024 @ 9:00 pm EST
- Location: Target Center in Minneapolis, MN
Apex Tale of the Tape
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Denver Nuggets | |
| 47-21 | Record | 47-21 |
| 113.3 | Points Per Game | 114.7 |
| 48.4% | FG% | 49.6% |
| 38.6% | 3PT% | 37.0% |
| 52.0 | Rebounds Per Game | 52.1 |
| 106.6 | Points Allowed Per Game | 110.2 |
| 44.8% | Opponent FG% | 46.5% |
| 35.0% | Opponent 3PT% | 36.0% |
| 14.1 | Opponent Turnovers Forced | 12.3 |
| 49.8 | Opponent Rebounds Against | 49.5 |
| 3-2 | Last 5 W-L | 4-1 |
| 101.2 | Team Pace | 100.0 |
Key Stats
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota is on the second half of a back-to-back after beating the Utah Jazz on the road last night. They travel back home to Minnesota tonight to meet the Denver Nuggets for the second time this season. In the first game, the Timberwolves put up an impressive victory, winning by 21 points. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists in that game, a luxury the Timberwolves won’t have tonight. Anthony Edwards will have to continue being the main scorer for Minnesota.
The Timberwolves match up against the Denver Nuggets very well. They have Rudy Gobert to defend Nikola Jokic, and they still have plenty of size at other positions to defend the crafty Aaron Gordon. This projects to be a defensive battle, which is why the total points line is so low at 213. However, the T-Wolves did just play last night, so don’t expect them to be 100% tonight.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have an extra day of rest than the Timberwolves, which is the only reason the spread is set high at 7. They are coming off of a loss at Dallas where Kyrie Irving made a ridiculous buzzer-beater to win the game. In that game, the Nuggets barely scored over 100, with 105, and the Mavericks defense is terrible. They are going to have to pick it up if they want to put up points against the league’s best defense tonight.
As I mentioned before, Aaron Gordon should have a tough time tonight vs the size of Minnesota, so some other guys are going to have to step up. The Nuggets are going to need Jamal Murray to do his thing and spark the offense. Also, even though Nikola Jokic has a tough matchup vs Rudy Gobert, he needs to use his playmaking to create shots for other guys like Peyton Watson and Michael Porter Jr.
Injury Report
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Rudy Gobert (rib) – Questionable
- Naz Reid (head) – Questionable
- Karl-Anthony Towns – Injured
Denver Nuggets
- Zeke Nnaji (back) – Questionable
Game Prediction
It is always tough to pick between two teams of this caliber. Two teams that easily could dominate the other, and win convincingly. However, I think there is only one way to bet on this game. Even though I love their matchup vs Denver, the T-Wolves are dealing with a back-to-back. The only teams Minnesota has beaten with 0 days of rest this season are the Portland Trailblazers, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Memphis Grizzlies. The Nuggets are way better than all of these teams.
Additionally, Nikola Jokic has not struggled against Rudy Gobert in his career. He has 24+ points in 10 of his last 11 games vs Gobert. There is no guarantee that both Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid play this game today. We see it all the time in today’s NBA. Players tend to rest when they have to play multiple games in a row. It’s hard to bet against the best player in the NBA.
Final Pick
Denver Nuggets -7 (-112)
About the Author
Caden is a massive sports fan and has been following the professional leagues for as long as he can remember. His main sports are NFL and NBA, but he watches and can talk about all sports. If you want more great sports insight or are looking for sports betting advice, follow Caden on Twitter @CadenBahry. Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
