The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves have been barely separated by a hair this decade. After executive Tim Connelly departed from the former to the latter, followed by their intense seven-game series in 2024, both sides have remained linked.
This season, fans are getting a treat as they renew their rivalry in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. While the Timberwolves have undergone massive changes in the last two seasons, their best defender, Rudy Gobert, isn’t willing to count his team out just yet.
Rudy Gobert Understands Uphill Battle Ahead of Nuggets Clash
Over their last 30 games, the Nuggets and the Timberwolves have consistently gone back and forth. Minnesota holds a slight 16-14 edge during that stretch, but Denver dominated their regular-season series 3-1 this year.
Moreover, the Timberwolves aren’t as deep as they used to be two seasons ago, with point-of-attack defenders who could hound Jamal Murray like Nickeil Alexander-Walker no longer on their roster.
Add in the decided seeding edge, as they are the sixth seed compared to Nikola Jokić and Co., who are sitting as the third seed, which gives Denver a massive home-court advantage. However, the crux of the matter boils down to the season as a whole.
After back-to-back conference finals appearances, many expected the Timberwolves to be a force in the Western Conference. However, they couldn’t escape the middle of the pack.
Add an injury setback to Anthony Edwards near the end of the season, and the situation could get very grim for Minnesota in a hurry. Gobert, who has four Defensive Player of the Year awards to his credit, recognizes that urgency.
Speaking to ESPN, it was clear that he was familiar with their defensive regression. From the best defensive rating in the league in 2023-24 (108.4), the group has steadily fallen to eighth this year (112.5).
That dip, combined with the lack of overall depth, could turn out to be their undoing. But Gobert isn’t willing to give up just yet.
“When our group doesn’t have a choice, usually it shows up, and so once again, it’s all in our hands. It’s all in our power,” Gobert said.
Still, thanks to the numerous battles the two sides have had with one another, he isn’t willing to take the Nuggets lightly either.
“We’re facing a great opponent, and we know that if we don’t come out hungry, we don’t have a chance,” Gobert acknowledged.
It remains to be seen if the Timberwolves can overcome their relatively underwhelming regular season and surprise people once again in the playoffs. But it is going to be an uphill climb if they want to even make it out of the first round this time around.
