The 2026 NBA playoffs are in the end right here, and the Denver Nuggets are determined to get postseason motion underway. The Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves are kicking off playoff motion within the Western Convention, with Recreation 1 tipping off at 1:30 p.m. MT in Denver on Saturday.
Those two groups have met within the playoffs in two of the closing 3 years, because the Nuggets are searching for revenge after the Timberwolves despatched them house of their closing assembly in 2024. After all, they’re two very other groups now, however there may be nonetheless some unhealthy blood between them within the Northwest Department contention.
Heading into this marquee Recreation 1, there are a couple of key accidents to notice, together with Timberwolves All-Superstar Anthony Edwards.
Nuggets harm record
After lacking 25 of Denver’s ultimate 30 video games of the season with hamstring problems, Nuggets backup wing Peyton Watson will stay sidelined for Recreation 1 of the first-round sequence. Doubtlessly becoming a member of him at the bench is backup ahead Spencer Jones, who has been indexed as questionable. The Nuggets’ complete harm record:
– Spencer Jones: QUESTIONABLE (proper hamstring pressure)
– Peyton Watson: OUT (proper hamstring pressure)
Thankfully for the Nuggets, they could handiest have one participant absent to start out the playoffs after an injury-plagued common season, however in fact, they’re nonetheless taking a look ahead to having their whole rotation to be had one day this postseason. With Jones’ bench position expanding right through the season, his standing will indubitably be value tracking main as much as tip-off.
Timberwolves harm record
4-time All-Superstar Anthony Edwards additionally had problems to near out the common season, lacking ten of Minnesota’s ultimate 13 video games. Now, his standing heading into Recreation 1 is within the air, as he has been indexed as questionable. Minnesota’s complete harm record:
– Anthony Edwards: QUESTIONABLE (proper knee harm control)
At the brilliant facet for the Timberwolves, Edwards’ knee factor is their handiest harm to record forward of Recreation 1. Then again, it will be tragic if he needed to omit the playoff opener. This season, the Timberwolves went 12-9 with out Edwards, together with a loss to the Nuggets and a 4-7 report towards playoff groups.
Preferably, for each the Timberwolves and enthusiasts, Edwards is just right to move for Saturday’s Recreation 1, even if the Nuggets may just catch an enormous smash if he has to sit down.
Projected beginning lineups
Whilst the Nuggets are coping with two key accidents to their 2nd unit, their beginning lineup remains to be intact. The Timberwolves, alternatively, can have their beginning lineup in flux if Edwards misses Recreation 1.
Nuggets: Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic
Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert
If Edwards is dominated out, the Timberwolves will most probably flip to Mike Conley to start out, however it’s exhausting to consider the All-NBA guard lacking this recreation so long as he can stroll. This can be a very high-powered fight between two of the most efficient groups within the league, making Saturday’s Recreation 1 extremely expected.
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