Timberwolves Face Stark Contrast in Potential Playoff Opponents

Minnesota could face short-handed Lakers or Jokic-led Nuggets in Round 1

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:25am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game between the Timberwolves and Nuggets, with overlapping planes of color representing the players and action on the court.The Timberwolves' potential playoff matchup against the Nuggets would be a far more challenging path to the NBA Finals than facing the short-handed Lakers.New Orleans Today

The Timberwolves' playoff fate hinges on a game between the Spurs and Nuggets on Sunday night. If the Nuggets win, Minnesota will face them in the first round, but if the Lakers beat the Jazz, the Wolves will get a rematch with the short-handed Lakers. The contrast between the two potential opponents is stark, with the Wolves heavily favored against the Lakers but underdogs against the Nuggets.

Why it matters

The Timberwolves' first-round opponent will have a major impact on their championship aspirations this season. A series against the Lakers would be a relatively easy path, while facing the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic would be a much tougher challenge. The Wolves have no control over which team they'll face, so the outcome of the Spurs-Nuggets game on Sunday is crucial.

The details

The Timberwolves are locked into the No. 6 seed in the West, so their first-round opponent will be determined by the results of the Spurs-Nuggets and Lakers-Jazz games on Sunday. If the Nuggets win, they will be the No. 3 seed and face the Wolves. But if the Nuggets lose and the Lakers win, Los Angeles will be the No. 3 seed and the Wolves will get a rematch from last year's playoffs, when Minnesota won in five games.

  • The Timberwolves' regular-season finale against the Pelicans is on Sunday.
  • The Spurs host the Nuggets on Sunday in a game that will likely determine the No. 3 seed in the West.
  • The Lakers play the Jazz on Sunday, and a win would put them in the No. 3 seed.

The players

Nikola Jokic

The star center of the Denver Nuggets, who is widely considered the third-best team in the Western Conference.

Luka Doncic

The Lakers' star who will likely be sidelined to start the playoffs, along with teammate Austin Reaves.

Anthony Edwards

The Timberwolves' superstar who returned from injury on Friday and scored 22 points in 27 minutes.

Terrence Shannon Jr.

The Timberwolves' second-year wing who has played his way back into the rotation with strong performances this week.

Victor Wembanyama

The Spurs' big man who has already reached the 65-game threshold to be eligible for All-NBA honors.

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What’s next

The Timberwolves will face either the Lakers or the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs, depending on the outcomes of the Spurs-Nuggets and Lakers-Jazz games on Sunday. The Wolves will be heavily favored against the short-handed Lakers, but would be underdogs against the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic.

The takeaway

The Timberwolves' path to the NBA Finals could be significantly impacted by the results of Sunday's games. A matchup with the Lakers would be a relatively easy first-round series, while facing the Nuggets would be a much tougher challenge. Minnesota has no control over which opponent it will face, so the Spurs-Nuggets game will be crucial in determining the Wolves' championship aspirations.