Nuggets coach Michael Malone lamented the only downside of the No. 1 seed was that Denver wouldn’t know who it’d meet in the first round until late Friday night.
With only one day to prepare before Sunday’s Game 1 at 8:30 p.m. in Denver, familiarity shouldn’t be an issue.
The Minnesota Timberwolves knocked off the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder, 120-95, on Friday night to claim the No. 8 seed and secure a date against the top-seeded Nuggets.
A Northwest Division rival, thatap only the start of the shared history between the two franchises. Most notably, former Nuggets president Tim Connelly left Denver last offseason to run the Timberwolves’ franchise. Connelly was instrumental in turning the Nuggets around and never could’ve guessed that he’d see his former team in his very first playoff series running his new franchise.
Ironically, Denver’s current GM, Calvin Booth, spent four years in Minnesota’s front office prior to joining the Nuggets’ franchise.
On the court, the Nuggets went 2-2 against the Timberwolves this season, though Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t play in any of the four matchups due to injury. Two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic averaged 25 points on 60% shooting, 12.7 assists and 10 rebounds in three games against Minnesota this season.
Here’s a look at the series schedule vs. Minnesota:
| Game | Location | Date | Time | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Minnesota at Denver | Sunday, April 16 | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 2 | Minnesota at Denver | Wednesday, April 19 | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 3 | Denver at Minnesota | Friday, April 21 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Game 4 | Denver at Minnesota | Sunday, April 23 | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 5 | Minnesota at Denver | Tuesday, April 25 | TBD | TBD |
| Game 6 | Denver at Minnesota | Thursday, April 27 | TBD | TBD |
| Game 7 | Minnesota at Denver | Saturday, April 29 | TBD | TNT |
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