The Minnesota Timberwolves are riding a wave of energy into the Western Conference playoffs, having recently completed an unexpected sweep of the Phoenix Suns. The Suns were regarded as strong candidates, with Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker all contributing significantly. However, the Timberwolves’ seamless team play and strategic execution left no room for doubt.
As the Timberwolves prepare to face the Denver Nuggets, who recently defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in a closely contested series, the stage is set for an exciting game. Denver, the incumbent NBA champions, are predicted to win; yet, they will now face a Minnesota squad that has frequently defied expectations and demonstrated a talent for rising to the situation. With both teams vying for a position in the conference finals, the upcoming series promises fierce action and unexpected shocks.
1. Wolves’ Defense on the Perimeter
The Timberwolves’ perimeter defense has been a key component of their playoff success, as demonstrated in their series against the Phoenix Suns. Anthony Edwards, Mike Conley, and Jaden McDaniels not only shut down the Suns’ star-studded roster, but they also excelled at defending the pick and roll—a crucial skill against Denver’s powerful pair of Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray. Murray, in particular, is coming off a sensational first-round performance in which he won two games against Anthony Davis, demonstrating his clutch scoring skills.
During their sweep of the Suns, the Timberwolves’ defensive trio faced some of the league’s finest and emerged victorious. Bradley Beal was limited to an average of 16.5 points on 44% shooting, a significant decrease from his normal prodigious scoring. Devin Booker, despite scoring 27.5 points per game, was pushed into nearly three turnovers, demonstrating the Timberwolves’ disruptive defense. Kevin Durant, famed for his scoring efficiency, was restricted to 26.8 points per game and had 2.5 turnovers per game.
This excellent defensive effort against such high-caliber opponents provides the Wolves with a strong foundation to counter the Nuggets’ offensive threats. With Porter Jr.’s sharpshooting and Murray’s playmaking and clutch scoring, the Timberwolves’ ability to maintain their strict perimeter defense will be critical in their quest to defeat the Nuggets.
2. A Major Interior Rotation Against Jokic
Nikola Jokic proved to be an unstoppable force in the first round of the playoffs, overpowering the Los Angeles Lakers, who failed to devise an effective strategy to stop him. Jokic’s astonishing statistics of 28.2 points, 16.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game demonstrate his influence and flexibility. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves may have the tools to provide more resistance.
During the regular season, Rudy Gobert struggled when paired up against Jokic. In their direct matchups, Gobert enabled Jokic to average 10.8 points per game on 61.7% shooting, and Jokic overall scored 33.0 points per game versus the Wolves. Despite these scary statistics, Minnesota’s playoff record, particularly their defensive prowess against the Suns, implies they could change their strategy.
The Timberwolves might choose to let Jokic have his points while focusing heavily on shutting down the Nuggets’ perimeter scoring, a strategy that would rely on their disciplined defenders not to collapse too much into the paint, giving Denver’s shooters easy looks. Alternatively, Minnesota might use a more aggressive strategy, using the weak side to disrupt Jokic’s rhythm and push him to make difficult decisions under pressure.
Minnesota’s bigs, including Gobert, Naz Reid, and Karl-Anthony Towns, offer a substantial and physical rotation that can be used to constantly attack Jokic. By rotating these players, the Timberwolves may try to wear out Jokic over the course of the game while keeping a fresh defender on him whenever possible. The tenacity and defensive rotations of this trio may play a role in complicating Denver’s ball movement and limiting Jokic’s efficiency.
3. Anthony Edwards is dominating the playoffs.
Anthony Edwards has definitely risen to the occasion this postseason, improving his game to become one of the playoffs’ standout performers, and probably the best player, so far. In the first round against the Suns, Edwards averaged 31.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists over four games, displaying not only his scoring abilities but also his overall effect on the field.
His scoring accomplishments were 33 points in Game 1, 36 points in Game 3, and a huge 40 points in Game 4, which helped the Timberwolves sweep the series. These are not simply stats; they are assertions of dominance, demonstrating Edwards’ ability to take over games and demoralize opponents.
In addition to his scoring, Edwards has been a force on defense, averaging 2.0 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. His shooting efficiency has been phenomenal, with a field goal percentage of 51.2% and an impressive 43.8% from beyond the arc on high volume—averaging 8.0 three-point attempts and converting 3.5 per game. This high-efficiency, high-volume shooting style has been key to Minnesota’s offensive plan.
Edwards’ Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 28.0 puts him third in the playoffs, after only juggernauts Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. This statistic emphasizes his efficacy and efficiency, underlining his significance to the Timberwolves’ playoff success.
As Minnesota prepares to face the Denver Nuggets, Edwards’ sustained domination could be the tipping point in favor of the Timberwolves. His ability to produce at such a high level during the playoffs not only improves his team’s confidence, but also presents a tremendous challenge to any defense attempting to contain him.
