The NBA released the complete first-round schedule for the Denver Nuggets’ Western Conference playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night, and we now know more than just when it tips.
Denver, the No. 3 seed, holds home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series against the sixth-seeded Timberwolves.
Here’s the full schedule for Nuggets-Wolves:
| Game | Day | Date | Away | Home | Time (MT) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat. | April 18 | Minnesota | Denver | 1:30 p.m. | Prime |
| 2 | Mon. | April 20 | Minnesota | Denver | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| 3 | Thu. | April 23 | Denver | Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. | Prime |
| 4 | Sat. | April 25 | Denver | Minnesota | 6:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 5* | Mon. | April 27 | Minnesota | Denver | TBD | TBD |
| 6* | Thu. | April 30 | Denver | Minnesota | TBD | TBD |
| 7* | Sat. | May 2 | Minnesota | Denver | TBD | TBD |
This is the third time in four postseasons that Denver and Minnesota will meet in the playoffs, a rivalry that has produced some of the most memorable moments in recent NBA history. The Nuggets eliminated the Timberwolves in five games during their 2023 championship run, but Minnesota got revenge the following year, completing the biggest Game 7 comeback in NBA history to end Denver’s repeat bid in the Western Conference semifinals.
The two teams are 14-14 head-to-head over the last four seasons, underscoring just how evenly matched this matchup is. But the Nuggets carry serious momentum into April. Denver won 12 consecutive games to close the regular season and lock up the No. 3 seed, while Minnesota limped to the finish at 49-33, ranking 18th in net rating after the All-Star break.
Nikola Jokic, averaging a triple-double for the second straight season, gives Denver one clear edge: the best player in the series. He and Jamal Murray became the first teammates in NBA history to each post at least 1,500 points and 500 assists in the same season, and the Nuggets own the league’s No. 1 offensive rating heading into the postseason. It’s a big reason why the Nuggets are the betting favorites to win in this third battle.
Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves won’t go quietly — this is their fifth consecutive postseason appearance, the franchise’s longest streak since the Kevin Garnett era, and they’ve peaked higher this time with back-to-back Conference Finals appearances. But Edwards has been dealing with a knee issue, and Minnesota’s late-season slide hasn’t inspired confidence.
There’s a break after Games 1 and 2 at Ball Arena in Denver ahead of Games 3 and 4 in the Twin Cities. Then there’s another two-day break between Games 5 and 6, if necessary. The series starts with an early 1:30 local tip time and is followed up with a very late 8:30 p.m. start time.
