Nuggets vs Timberwolves: Jokic’s 38-Point Show Fuels Denver’s Game 2 Win—Can Minnesota Dodge a Sweep?

H2: Denver Nuggets Seize Series Lead Behind Jokic-Murray Masterclass The Denver Nuggets opened their 2026 NBA Playoffs campaign with a commanding 116-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, powered by a combined 55 points, 18 rebounds and 18 assists from Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. The win extends Denver’s postseason home dominance to eight straight games dating back to last year and instantly flips the pressure onto the sixth-seeded Wolves ahead of Game 2 at Ball Arena. H2: Injury Report: Denver Finally at Full Strength For the first time since February, head coach Michael Malone had his preferred starting five available as Aaron Gordon (shoulder) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ankle) returned to log 30-plus minutes each. Minnesota, meanwhile, remains without rim-protector Walker Kessler (foot), a loss that showed as Denver outscored the Wolves 56-38 in the paint. H2: What to Watch in Game 2 1. Pace vs. Post: Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards wants to push tempo, but Jokić methodically dissected drop coverage in Game 1, generating 1.32 points per possession on post-ups. 2. Perimeter Battle: Denver hit 15 threes while limiting the Wolves to 9; Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns must stretch the floor or face another crowded lane. 3. Bench Minutes: Christian Braun’s plus-12 in 17 minutes masked a rare quiet night from Sixth-Man finalist Tim Hardaway Jr.. Expect Chris Finch to stagger Edwards earlier to counter Braun’s energy. H2: Updated Odds and Expert Predictions Sportsbooks opened Denver as 7.5-point favorites for Wednesday’s Game 2, but early action on the hosts has pushed the line to –8.5, with the total holding steady at 221.5. CBS Sports’ advanced model gives the Nuggets a 67 percent win probability and projects another double-digit margin if Denver keeps Minnesota below 110 points. H2: Bigger Picture in the West Sunday’s win preserved Denver’s path to a potential second-round matchup with the injury-ravaged Phoenix Suns, while top-seed Oklahoma City owns the conference’s best title odds at +110. Yet with Jokić named an MVP finalist for the eighth straight year and Murray averaging 28.4 points in his last five playoff games, the defending champions look every bit like a team capable of repeating. H2: SEO Key Takeaways • Denver Nuggets defeat Timberwolves in Game 1 of 2026 NBA Playoffs. • Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray star; Denver leads best-of-seven 1-0. • Game 2 odds: Nuggets –8.5, over/under 221.5. • Injuries: Nuggets at full strength; Wolves still without Kessler. • Western Conference bracket outlook favors Denver’s repeat bid.