The Denver Nuggets will open their 2026 NBA Playoffs campaign this weekend against the Minnesota Timberwolves in a compelling first-round Western Conference series. After a strong finish to the regular season, Denver — the No. 3 seed — will host the No. 6 Timberwolves in Game 1 on Saturday, April 18, at 3:30 p.m. ET from Ball Arena. The matchup will be broadcast on Prime Video.
Following the conclusion of the NBA Play-In Tournament, the league released the complete first-round schedule, giving both teams clarity on the dates and times for a potential seven-game battle. The Nuggets enter the series riding significant momentum, while the Timberwolves will look to upset a Denver squad that has been one of the hottest teams in the conference.
Full First-Round Schedule (All Times ET)
- Game 1: Saturday, April 18 – 3:30 p.m. on Prime Video (Timberwolves at Nuggets)
- Game 2: Monday, April 20 – 10:30 p.m. on NBC (Timberwolves at Nuggets)
- Game 3: Thursday, April 23 – 9:30 p.m. on Prime Video (Nuggets at Timberwolves)
- Game 4: Saturday, April 25 – 8:30 p.m. on ABC (Nuggets at Timberwolves)
- Game 5: Monday, April 27 – TBD (if necessary, Timberwolves at Nuggets)
- Game 6: Thursday, April 30 – TBD (if necessary, Nuggets at Timberwolves)
- Game 7: Saturday, May 2 – TBD (if necessary, Timberwolves at Nuggets)
Subsequent games will be played in Denver for Games 1, 2, 5 (if needed), and 7 (if needed), with Minnesota hosting Games 3, 4, and 6 (if needed). Times for Games 5–7 will be confirmed later based on the series progression.
Nuggets Finish the Season Strong
The Nuggets wrapped up the 2025-26 regular season with an impressive 54-28 record, finishing just two games behind the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference standings. Most notably, Denver closed the year on a 12-game winning streak, including a season-ending victory over the Spurs. This surge has positioned the Nuggets as one of the Western Conference’s most dangerous playoff teams heading into the postseason.
Nikola Jokić has once again been the centerpiece of Denver’s success, orchestrating the offense with his signature vision and efficiency. Supported by a well-balanced roster featuring contributors like Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets have shown both offensive firepower and resilience down the stretch.
Head-to-Head Context Adds Intrigue
This series carries extra narrative weight due to recent history between the two teams. In the 2024-25 season, the Timberwolves swept the Nuggets in the regular-season matchups. However, Denver flipped the script in 2025-26, winning three of the four meetings against Minnesota. That regular-season edge gives the Nuggets confidence, but they will need to remain focused — the Timberwolves, led by their young core, remain a formidable defensive and athletic threat in the playoffs.
The Nuggets cannot afford to overlook Minnesota, especially with the potential for a deeper postseason run that could include a rematch against the Spurs or other strong Western contenders later on.
Game 1 tips off this Saturday afternoon in Denver, where the Nuggets will look to leverage their home-court advantage and red-hot form. With star power on both sides and a history of competitive battles, this first-round series promises to deliver high-level basketball from the opening tip.
Stay tuned as the 2026 NBA Playoffs get underway — the Nuggets-Timberwolves series is set to be one of the most intriguing early matchups in the West.