Minnesota Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/18/2026

Game Time: 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, April 18, 2026

Venue:  Ball Arena, Denver, CO

Where to Watch:  Prime Video

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Timberwolves +6.5, Nuggets -6.5; Over/Under:  232.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Timberwolves +6.5, Nuggets -6.5; Over/Under:  232.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Timberwolves +6.5, Nuggets -6.5; Over/Under:  232.5 points

Minnesota Timberwolves:  49-33 (3rd place, Northwest Division)

Denver Nuggets:  54-28 (2nd place, Northwest Division)

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Minnesota Timberwolves:  5-5 last 10

Denver Nuggets:  10-0 last 10

The Timberwolves are entering the playoffs with a 49-33 record overall this season and they were 23-18 in their road games where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game winning streak with wins coming against the Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Terrence Shannon Jr. led the team in points in that game with 26 while Joan Beringer was next on the team with 24 points. Joe Ingles led the team in assists in that game with 10 while Joan Beringer led the team in rebounds with 13. They were 50.6% from the field, 27% from 3-point range, and 74.4% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 118 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 114.6 PPG against them. The Timberwolves have an ATS record of 36-46 this season and their O/U record is 37-45.

The Nuggets are entering the playoffs with a 54-28 record overall this season and they were 28-13 in their home games where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 12 game winning streak with wins coming against the Toronto Raptors, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Phoenix Suns, the Dallas Mavericks, the Utah Jazz, the Golden State Warriors, the Jazz again, the San Antonio Spurs, the Trail Blazers again, the Memphis Grizzlies, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Spurs again. Julian Strawther led the team in points in that game with 25 while Nikola Jokić was next on the team with 23 points. Jalen Pickett led the team in assists in that game with 6 while David Roddy led the team in rebounds with 13. They were 50% from the field, 36.7% from 3-point range, and 77.3% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 122.1 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 116.9 PPG against them. The Nuggets have an ATS record of 44-38 this season and their O/U record is 52-30.

The current betting odds have the Nuggets listed as a 6.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Nuggets have looked great in their games this season with their 54-28 record overall which had them right near the top of the West. They have looked great on their home court too with their 28-13 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have looked good in their games this season with their 49-33 record overall which had them in the top half of the West. They have been a good road team too with their 23-18 road record this year. This is the 1st game of a 7-game series between the 3 seeded Nuggets and the 6 seeded Timberwolves in the West for the 1st round of the NBA playoffs. The Timberwolves are entering this series with a bit of a momentum now from 2 wins in a row, but they have been dealing with a lot of injuries lately and haven't looked that good. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games and they could be missing some key players in the lineup still. The Nuggets have been rolling in their games lately though and they made a run to earn the 3 seed in the West. They have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the last month and they have a ton of momentum on their side with 12 wins in a row now. They have also been really healthy throughout this stretch too, so they are going to be ready to go in this one. They have a lot of history with the Timberwolves the last few years too, so the Nuggets are going to bring their best effort here to get their noses out in front in this series and take advantage of a Timberwolves team that might not be fully healthy to start this series. The best way to place a bet here is on the Nuggets to cover the spread in this game. 

Timberwolves Nuggets Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Saturday, April 18, 2026 (3:30 pm ET start time) is Nuggets 114 Timberwolves 105.

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Minnesota Timberwolves: 24-37 ATS versus poor defensive teams - shooting pct defense of 46% or more. 1-5 ATS after 3 or more consecutive overs. 5-13 ATS when playing 6 or less games in 14 days. 8-4 OVER as an underdog  of 3.5 to 9.5 points. 24-17 OVER in road games.

Denver Nuggets: 13-6 ATS revenging a same season loss vs opponent. 25-17 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record. 18-8 ATS versus good teams - outscoring their opponents by 3+ points/game. 36-22 OVER when the total is greater than or equal to 230. 13-3 OVER revenging a straight up loss vs opponent as a favorite.

Minnesota Timberwolves:  K. Anderson (SF) Day To Day - Knee. M. Conley (PG) Day To Day - Rest. A. Dosunmu (SG) Day To Day - Calf. A. Edwards (SG) Day To Day - Knee. J. McDaniels (PF) Day To Day - Hip. N. Reid (C) Day To Day - Injury Management. B. Hyland (PG) Day To Day - Hip. R. Gobert (C) Day To Day - Rest. J. Randle (PF) Day To Day - Hand.

Denver Nuggets:  T. Hardaway Jr. (SG) Day To Day - Knee. C. Johnson (PF) Day To Day - Injury Management. C. Braun (SG) Day To Day - Ankle. J. Murray (PG) Day To Day - Shoulder. A. Gordon (PF) Day To Day - Hamstring. S. Jones (SF) Day To Day - Hamstring. P. Watson (SF) Out - Hamstring.

“I think the value of this week is huge. There’s no doubt about it. You get a week to kind of really work on some new stuff or work on some things that are going to be points of emphasis in the series.” - Chris Finch on preparing for the Nuggets in the 1st round of the NBA playoffs. 

“Us and Minnesota, it’s been a crazy back-and-forth over the years. They swept us last year, but then we beat them three out of four this year. We always know it’s competitive with them. They’ve given us issues. We’ve given them issues. Obviously, Houston, I mean, they’re playing so well right now. I think they’ve won seven or eight in a row. There’s no good opponent in my opinion. I think you just have to play it out with decisions that are best for your team. We feel like tonight, this is the best decision.” - David Adelman on his team playing the Timberwolves in the 1st round of the playoffs. 

PG Donte DiVincenzo

SG Anthony Edwards

SF Jaden McDaniels

PF Julius Randle

C Rudy Gobert

PG Jamal Murray

SG Christian Braun

SF Cameron Johnson

PF Aaron Gordon

C Nikola Jokic

PPG: Anthony Edwards (28.8)

APG: Julius Randle (5)

Reb/G: Rudy Gobert (11.5)

PPG: Nikola Jokic (27.7)

APG: Nikola Jokic (10.7)

Reb/G: Nikola Jokic (12.9)

Coaches:

Minnesota Timberwolves: Chris Finch (6th season)

Denver Nuggets: David Adelman (2nd season)