Edwards Steers Timberwolves to Fourth Place in the West After 117-108 Triumph Over Denver

Written by Pavel Kateliev

Pavel Kateliev is a popular sport journalist, particularly in the fields of football, basketball, tennis, and hockey. He writes daily for Sportingpedia and his work has been translated into at least 20 languages and featured on renowned outlets such as BBC, Yahoo, MCN, Sun, and Evening News, in Italian, English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

, | Updated: March 2, 2026

Anthony Edwards protecting the ball from Nikola Jokic

Key Takeaways:

The Minnesota Timberwolves clinched a 117-108 victory against the Denver Nuggets, moving one game ahead in the Western Conference standings
Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 21 points, while Bones Hyland contributed 15 of his 18 against his former club in the first half
Denver’s Nikola Jokic posted 35 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists, but the Nuggets have now dropped four of six games since the All-Star break

Timberwolves Secure Crucial Win to Overtake Denver

The Minnesota Timberwolves emerged victorious against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, recording a 117-108 win at Denver to leap into fourth place in the Western Conference. With this crucial result, Minnesota wrapped up a three-game road swing unbeaten, advancing their record to 38-23 and overtaking the Nuggets in the standings. This marked the Timberwolves’ first win over Denver in four attempts this season.

HOW ABOUT THAT WIN?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/uhPxhmAkug
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 1, 2026

Western Conference Race Intensifies

The wider playoff picture in the West remains tightly contested, with just two games separating third-seeded Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers, who currently sit in sixth. With Los Angeles scheduled to host Sacramento later on Sunday, the battle for play-off positioning continues to heat up. Prior to tipoff, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch offered his perspective, stating, “Everyone around the league knows what’s at stake when you look at the standings, and every single night these games feel just so big.”

Individual Performances and Absences

Anthony Edwards paved the way for Minnesota, tallying 21 points, supported by Bones Hyland’s 18-point contribution, with 15 of those coming in the opening half against his former side. In response, Nikola Jokic showcased his influential form for Denver, finishing with 35 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists. Jamal Murray added 25 points, going 9-of-22 from the field and converting 4 of 6 attempts from three-point range.

Denver, however, has struggled since the All-Star break, enduring four defeats in their last six outings. The Nuggets have also been hampered by the continued absence of Aaron Gordon, sidelined by a hamstring injury since 30 January, as well as Peyton Watson who is out with a hamstring strain.

Game Progress and Key Moments

Minnesota established a 58-50 advantage at the halftime interval, extending their lead to 83-69 in the third quarter after Donte DiVincenzo converted three shots from beyond the arc. Denver responded, narrowing the deficit to just five points late in the third period, before the Timberwolves regained control to secure a 104-92 lead with 7:05 remaining.

While Jamal Murray injected energy into the hosts with a driving dunk over Rudy Gobert, Minnesota quickly surged back with five consecutive points, including an Edwards three-pointer that put them up 109-96. Denver drew within seven points during the final three minutes and forty-nine seconds, but the Timberwolves maintained their composure to seal the win.