Game Preview: Timberwolves vs. Nuggets

Minnesota Timberwolves against Denver Nuggets
Date: October 17, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
Location: Target center
TV coverage: Bally Sports North
Radio reporting: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

They say revenge is a dish best served cold, but for the Denver Nuggets tonight, any revenge they dream of against the Minnesota Timberwolves will be about as flat as day old lemonade. Of course, this game could have been described as some kind of preseason grudge match after the Wolves defeated the Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals last season, but let's face it – if Denver was looking for revenge, it won't happen tonight.

Why? Because Wolves will be rolling out the bottom of their bench in this final preseason, and that's not even their fault. The Minnesota Lynx and their entry into the WNBA finals are to blame for this. (Nobody's mad about that, by the way – bring on more Minnesota championships!) The scheduling change led to this bizarre Wolves matchup, and we all know what that means in the NBA, especially during preseason: starters sitting. And let's face it: In a game that doesn't count, Chris Finch isn't going to keep Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and the rest of the starting lineup firing on all cylinders just five days before the season opener.

So if you tune in hoping to see the full-blown rivalry between the Wolves and the Nuggets, you're in for a disappointment. This will not be a battle of the Western Conference heavyweights. For all practical purposes, this game is the extended closing credits of Minnesota's preseason. We saw what the real squad looked like last night in the bitter loss to the Chicago Bulls. That was the finale, folks.

Tonight? It's a completely different script. Finch will use this game to evaluate the fringes of the squad. We will see some deep cuts Luke Garza, Josh Minottand perhaps even a larger role for newcomers Rob Dillingham And Terence Shannon Jr. It's a good opportunity for these guys to prove they belong and show what they've got in real NBA action – even if it's against Denver's own B squad.

And honestly, it's still worth seeing. Every team needs those “glues” – the ones who step in when you need them, who know their role and play it perfectly when the starters need a breather. Plus, there's always a chance for one of these young guys to have a breakthrough moment. Who doesn't love seeing a rookie get hot in garbage time and push for more minutes when the games actually count?

So there's certainly not much at stake. But this is still basketball, it's still the Wolves, and let's be honest – getting a first look at the deeper parts of this roster isn't the worst way to spend a Thursday night. Plus, the regular season is just around the corner and you know Ant and the Wolves are ready to start chasing that title.

Let the bench fight begin.