Timberwolves Move Into 4th in West With Win Over Nuggets

Anthony Edwards and Bones Hyland lead Minnesota to 117-108 victory

Mar. 2, 2026 at 4:55pm

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The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets 117-108 on Sunday, moving a game ahead of Denver in the Western Conference standings. Anthony Edwards scored 21 points and Bones Hyland had 15 of his 18 points in the first half against his former team. The win improved the Timberwolves' record to 38-23, jumping them into fourth place in the West.

Why it matters

The win over the Nuggets is a key result in the tight Western Conference playoff race, with just two games separating third-seeded Houston and the sixth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers. Every game is crucial as teams jockey for position heading into the postseason.

The details

The Timberwolves led 58-50 at halftime and extended their lead to 83-69 in the third quarter. The Nuggets cut the deficit to five late in the third, but Minnesota answered with a 5-0 run and a 3-pointer from Edwards to go up 109-96 in the fourth. Nikola Jokic had 35 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists for Denver, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Timberwolves.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 2, 2026.

The players

Anthony Edwards

A 21-year-old guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves who scored 21 points in the win.

Bones Hyland

A 22-year-old guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves who scored 15 of his 18 points in the first half against his former team, the Denver Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic

A 31-year-old center for the Denver Nuggets who finished with 35 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists in the loss.

Jamal Murray

A 28-year-old guard for the Denver Nuggets who scored 25 points on 9-of-22 shooting, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range.

Chris Finch

The head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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What they’re saying

“Everyone around the league knows what's at stake when you look at the standings, and every single night these games feel just so big.”

— Chris Finch, Head Coach, Minnesota Timberwolves

What’s next

The Timberwolves will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, March 4, 2026, while the Nuggets will travel to face the Utah Jazz on Monday, March 3, 2026.

The takeaway

The Timberwolves' win over the Nuggets is a significant result in the tight Western Conference playoff race, as Minnesota has now jumped ahead of Denver in the standings. With just two games separating third and sixth place, every game down the stretch will be crucial for teams jockeying for position and trying to secure a postseason berth.