DENVER — With Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves set to tip off Saturday at Ball Arena, the Denver Nuggets have confirmed their starting lineup, delivering a clear message of continuity and confidence as they open another postseason run anchored by Nikola Jokic.
The Nuggets, the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed after a 54-28 regular-season finish, will send out the same trusted five that has defined their recent success: Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Jokic. The announcement, made shortly before tipoff, comes on the heels of a significant Jokic milestone update: the three-time MVP enters the game just 22 points shy of passing Kevin Garnett (2,601) for 43rd place on the NBA’s all-time playoff scoring list.
The decision to keep the core group intact underscores Denver’s belief in experience and chemistry rather than last-minute experimentation against one of the conference’s most physically imposing lower seeds.
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Murray returns as the lead guard and primary half-court creator, tasked with unlocking Denver’s offense alongside Jokic. Braun is poised for a major two-way role on the perimeter, likely drawing the assignment of slowing Minnesota’s explosive star Anthony Edwards, who is expected to play despite appearing on the injury report. Johnson provides critical spacing and wing depth, while Gordon remains one of the league’s most versatile frontcourt pieces, capable of defending multiple positions and finishing effectively around Jokic.
At center, Jokic continues to anchor everything. He closed the regular season averaging 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 56.9% from the field and 38.0% from three-point range across 65 contests. His playoff pedigree is even more imposing: in 94 career postseason games, Jokic has posted 27.4 points, 12.3 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per night on 52.5% field-goal shooting and 38.8% from beyond the arc.
Those numbers take on added weight against this specific opponent. In four regular-season meetings with the Timberwolves, Jokic averaged more than 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists, illustrating how difficult he has been to contain even against Minnesota’s size and length.
The Timberwolves enter as the No. 6 seed but bring a formidable arsenal of size, physicality, and scoring options led by Edwards, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert. The anticipated Jokic-Gobert matchup in the paint is expected to set the tone for the series, though Minnesota has multiple bodies available to cycle onto Denver’s superstar. Slowing Edwards’ scoring bursts will be another defensive priority for the Nuggets.
For Denver, the series represents more than a first-round test. Since capturing the 2023 NBA championship, the Nuggets have remained among the West’s elite but have yet to return to the conference finals. Murray’s health and his proven two-man chemistry with Jokic remain central to their ceiling, and Saturday’s lineup choice signals that the team is prepared to lean on its most reliable structure from the outset.
Game 1 is about protecting home court, seizing an early series lead, and allowing Jokic to continue adding to a postseason résumé already among the strongest of his generation. With the starting five now official, the Nuggets are locked in and ready to begin their push for another deep playoff run.