Timberwolves Defeat Nuggets 110-98 in Playoff Showdown
Thursday, April 30, 2026, 9:30 PM ET · Target Center
Minnesota Timberwolves 110, Denver Nuggets 98, final. Our NBA picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves?
Minnesota Timberwolves beat Denver Nuggets 110-98 at Target Center on April 30, 2026.
Who was favored in Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves?
Denver Nuggets were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -310 (about 76% implied). The underdog won.
The Minnesota Timberwolves secured a crucial victory against the Denver Nuggets, winning 110-98 at the Target Center. This game was significant as it marked the Timberwolves' first win in the series, which the Nuggets lead 3-1. The Timberwolves, with a home record of 49-33 for the season, showcased their resilience against a formidable opponent that finished the regular season with a 54-28 record.
In terms of recent form, the Timberwolves had a mixed performance leading up to this game, with a record of 5-5 in their last ten games. However, they entered this matchup on a two-game winning streak, averaging 115.2 points scored while allowing 115.5 points per game. Their last five games saw them improve slightly, with an average of 124.0 points scored and 123.2 points allowed. The Timberwolves' performance at home has been more challenging, as they held a home record of 2-2 in their last four games.
On the other hand, the Nuggets were riding a ten-game winning streak, boasting an impressive average of 131.2 points scored and 120.7 points allowed in their last ten games. Their away record during this stretch was 3-0, indicating strong performances outside of their home court. The Nuggets had been dominant in their previous meetings with the Timberwolves, winning three out of four games in the current season, including a 117-108 victory on March 1, 2026.
In terms of injuries, the Timberwolves were without Donte DiVincenzo due to an Achilles issue. The Nuggets had two players listed as day-to-day: Aaron Gordon with a calf injury and Trevon Brazile with an undisclosed issue. The status of these players could have influenced the game dynamics, particularly for the Nuggets, who were missing key contributors.
The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had the Nuggets favored by 7.5 points, with a total set at 223.5. The moneyline odds reflected a strong belief in the Nuggets' ability to win, with the Timberwolves at +250 and the Nuggets at -310. This context added to the pressure on the Timberwolves to perform at home.
The game conditions were favorable for both teams, with a competitive atmosphere expected in the playoffs. Fans were eager to see how the Timberwolves would respond to the challenge of overcoming the Nuggets, who had been a tough opponent throughout the season.
Throughout the game, viewers were treated to a display of skill and determination from the Timberwolves, particularly in the fourth quarter where they solidified their lead. Key plays included Jaden McDaniels' contributions, including a crucial pull-up jump shot that pushed the Timberwolves ahead, and multiple free throws from Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle that helped secure the victory.
As the Timberwolves celebrate this important win, they will look to build on this momentum in the upcoming games, while the Nuggets will need to regroup and address the challenges they faced in this matchup.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | DEN -7.5 | 223.5 o -108 / u -112 | Denver Nuggets -310 · Minnesota Timberwolves +250 |
Injury report
- Donte DiVincenzoOutAchillesMinnesota Timberwolves
- Aaron GordonDay-To-DayCalfDenver Nuggets
- Trevon BrazileDay-To-DayUndisclosedDenver Nuggets
Leaders
- PointsJaden McDaniels32Minnesota Timberwolves
- AssistsRudy Gobert8Minnesota Timberwolves
- ReboundsRudy Gobert13Minnesota Timberwolves
- PointsNikola Jokic28Denver Nuggets
- AssistsNikola Jokic10Denver Nuggets
- ReboundsNikola Jokic9Denver Nuggets
Recent form
Minnesota Timberwolves
Last 10: 5-5Streak W2115.2 scored · 115.5 allowed per game2-2 at home
- W132-126vs New Orleans PelicansApr 13
- W136-132at Houston RocketsApr 11
- L120-132at Orlando MagicApr 8
- W124-104at Indiana PacersApr 7
- L108-122vs Charlotte HornetsApr 5
- L103-115at Philadelphia 76ersApr 3
- L108-113at Detroit PistonsApr 2
- W124-94at Dallas MavericksMar 31
- L87-109vs Detroit PistonsMar 28
- W110-108vs Houston RocketsMar 26
Denver Nuggets
Last 10: 10-0Streak W10131.2 scored · 120.7 allowed per game3-0 away
- W128-118at San Antonio SpursApr 13
- W127-107vs Oklahoma City ThunderApr 11
- W136-119vs Memphis GrizzliesApr 9
- W137-132vs Portland Trail BlazersApr 7
- W136-134vs San Antonio SpursApr 4
- W130-117at Utah JazzApr 2
- W116-93vs Golden State WarriorsMar 30
- W135-129vs Utah JazzMar 28
- W142-135vs Dallas MavericksMar 26
- W125-123at Phoenix SunsMar 25
Standings
| Team | Games behind | Lost | Streak | Win % | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | - | 18 | L2 | .780 | 64 |
| Denver | 10 | 28 | W12 | .659 | 54 |
| Minnesota | 15 | 33 | W2 | .598 | 49 |
| Portland | 22 | 40 | W2 | .512 | 42 |
| Utah | 42 | 60 | L1 | .268 | 22 |
Box score
| Stat | Denver Nuggets | Minnesota Timberwolves |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 34-75 | 43-94 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 10-27 | 7-29 |
| Three-point % | 37 | 24 |
| Free throws | 20-25 | 17-24 |
| Free throw % | 80 | 71 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 50 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 19 |
| Defensive rebounds | 27 | 31 |
| Assists | 24 | 26 |
| Steals | 4 | 8 |
| Blocks | 8 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 7 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 2 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 2 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 16 | 10 |
| Fast-break points | 7 | 13 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 64 |
| Fouls | 26 | 21 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 12 |
| Lead changes | 9 | 9 |
| Time in front | 11 | 80 |
How the scoring went
- 3rd Quarter69-72Jaden McDaniels makes free throw 1 of 1
- 3rd Quarter70-72Bruce Brown makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter70-74Naz Reid makes 6-foot driving floating jump shot (Bones Hyland assists)
- 3rd Quarter72-74Nikola Jokic makes driving layup
- 3rd Quarter72-76Naz Reid makes 1-foot driving floating jump shot (Rudy Gobert assists)
- 3rd Quarter72-78Jaden McDaniels makes 10-foot pullup jump shot (Rudy Gobert assists)
- 3rd Quarter74-78Tim Hardaway Jr. makes 6-foot jump bank shot
- 3rd Quarter74-80Terrence Shannon Jr. makes driving layup
- 3rd Quarter74-82Jaden McDaniels makes layup (Jaylen Clark assists)
- 4th Quarter77-82Spencer Jones makes 22-foot three point jumper (Tim Hardaway Jr. assists)
- 4th Quarter77-84Jaden McDaniels makes 6-foot driving floating jump shot (Julius Randle assists)
- 4th Quarter80-84Cameron Johnson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Tyus Jones assists)
- 4th Quarter80-86Jaden McDaniels makes driving layup (Mike Conley assists)
- 4th Quarter81-86Tim Hardaway Jr. makes technical free throw
- 4th Quarter83-86Tyus Jones makes 12-foot pullup jump shot
- 4th Quarter85-86Nikola Jokic makes 2-foot layup (Cameron Johnson assists)
- 4th Quarter85-88Jaden McDaniels makes 10-foot pullup jump shot
- 4th Quarter87-88Nikola Jokic makes 7-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter87-91Naz Reid makes 22-foot three point jumper (Rudy Gobert assists)
- 4th Quarter88-91Nikola Jokic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter88-93Rudy Gobert makes tip shot
- 4th Quarter88-96Terrence Shannon Jr. makes 22-foot three point jumper (Rudy Gobert assists)
- 4th Quarter89-96Cameron Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter90-96Cameron Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter90-98Jaden McDaniels makes 8-foot driving floating jump shot (Rudy Gobert assists)
- 4th Quarter93-98Cameron Johnson makes 23-foot three point jumper (Nikola Jokic assists)
- 4th Quarter94-98Jamal Murray makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter95-98Jamal Murray makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter95-100Julius Randle makes 6-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter96-100Jamal Murray makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter97-100Jamal Murray makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter97-102Terrence Shannon Jr. makes driving layup
- 4th Quarter97-103Terrence Shannon Jr. makes free throw 1 of 1
- 4th Quarter98-103Cameron Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter98-105Jaden McDaniels makes 19-foot pullup jump shot
- 4th Quarter98-106Julius Randle makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter98-107Rudy Gobert makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter98-108Rudy Gobert makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter98-109Jaden McDaniels makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter98-110Jaden McDaniels makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Minnesota Timberwolves, below favours Denver Nuggets.
Venue
- Target CenterMinneapolis, MN
- Attendance18978
- OfficialsCourtney Kirkland, Brian Forte, Josh Tiven, J.B. DeRosa
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