{"id":607937,"date":"2026-04-26T19:07:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T19:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/607937\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T19:07:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T19:07:09","slug":"nuggets-vs-timberwolves-3-keys-to-denver-extending-the-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/607937\/","title":{"rendered":"Nuggets vs. Timberwolves | 3 keys to Denver extending the series"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s time to see what the Nuggets are all about.<\/p>\n

Here are three keys to Denver extending its season in Monday\u2019s Game 5 at Ball Arena:<\/p>\n

A little pride goes a long way<\/p>\n

After an uninspiring effort, and that\u2019s putting it kindly, in the second half of Saturday\u2019s loss, the Nuggets are in a bad place. Media rightfully questioned the team\u2019s buy-in, though coach David Adelman fiercely fought back on that notion. Fans crashed out online, going as far as questioning Nikola Jokic for the first time in forever. If they thought things were bad after Game 4, a soft performance in Game 5 will lead to some incredibly tough conversations this offseason. Denver failing to force a sixth game against a Minnesota team that\u2019s going to be without Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo should put just about everything on the table. If this core wants to stick together and have another shot at a championship run, it\u2019s time to play like it.<\/p>\n

\"MinnesotaMinnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets players get into an altercation during the second half of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo\/Abbie Parr)<\/p>\n

2. Punch first, keep punching<\/p>\n

Not literally, of course. This series has mostly been played right around the boiling point with things almost bubbling over in the final seconds of Game 5. The Nuggets would be dead men walking if not for the unfortunate injuries suffered by Edwards (left knee bone bruise and hyperextension) and DiVincenzo (torn right Achilles). Instead, a convincing win in front of the home crowd would introduce some doubt in the Timberwolves, something they haven\u2019t experienced since the first half of Game 2, and give the Nuggets a needed injection of confidence. A double-digit win on Monday and this thing is wide open. Leave the Timberwolves feeling good about their chances in Game 5, and Game 6 gets even more difficult.<\/p>\n

\"DenverDenver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) goes up to shoot over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, center left, during the first half of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo\/Abbie Parr)<\/p>\n

3. Get it done with Valanciunas, without Gordon<\/p>\n

If the Nuggets can\u2019t win on Monday without a limited version of Aaron Gordon, they weren\u2019t going anywhere anyway. Minnesota\u2019s injuries give Denver a perfect reason to proceed with extreme caution. Credit Gordon for giving it a go Saturday. He did what he could to stand up to Julius Randle, but he wasn\u2019t enough of a difference-maker to justify the risk of playing through a calf strain, and there\u2019s a whole lot of risk involved. If Minnesota matches Rudy Gobert and Jokic\u2019s minutes, there\u2019s no reason why Jonas Valanciunas can\u2019t make an impact against the Timberwolves\u2019 backup bigs. If there\u2019s one thing David Adelman can count on Valanciunas to bring, it\u2019s muscle and physicality, something the team has severely lacked in the last 2.5 games. The only reason Valanciunas shouldn\u2019t be in the rotation is if the NBA hands down suspensions for leaving the bench. If that\u2019s the case, Gordon, Gobert and Bones Hyland should all be watching from the bench on Monday. However it happens, a night off for Gordon would give him four full days to get his calf in a better place.<\/p>\n


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