Nuggets Take Game 1 Over Timberwolves

Denver wins 116-105 in first round playoff opener

Apr. 19, 2026 at 2:04am

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An abstract, energetic painting featuring bold brushstrokes and neon colors that capture the intensity and movement of an NBA playoff basketball game.The Nuggets' playoff push begins with a hard-fought victory over the Timberwolves in Game 1.Denver Today

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105 in the opening game of their first-round NBA playoff series on Saturday night at Ball Arena in Denver.

Why it matters

The Nuggets are looking to make a deep playoff run this season after a disappointing early exit last year, while the Timberwolves are hoping to build on their surprising success and advance further in the postseason.

The details

The Nuggets were led by Nikola Jokic's 32 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists, while Anthony Edwards scored 27 points for the Timberwolves. Denver pulled away in the second half after the game was close throughout the first two quarters.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

The players

Nikola Jokic

The star center for the Denver Nuggets who had a dominant performance in the win.

Anthony Edwards

The leading scorer for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough series against a very good Timberwolves team. I'm proud of the way our guys battled and executed down the stretch to get the win.”

— Michael Malone, Head Coach, Denver Nuggets

“We had our chances, but Jokic was just too much for us tonight. We'll need to make some adjustments before Game 2 if we want to even this series up.”

— Chris Finch, Head Coach, Minnesota Timberwolves

What’s next

Game 2 of the series will be played on Monday, April 20th in Denver.

The takeaway

The Nuggets showed their playoff experience and the dominance of Nikola Jokic in taking Game 1, but the Timberwolves proved they can compete with the veteran squad and will look to even the series in the next matchup.