Nuggets-Timberwolves playoff history: All-time record and more on NBA rivalry between Nikola Jokic, Anthony Edwards

Rivalries aren't all that common in the modern NBA, but what the Nuggets and Timberwolves have is starting to fit the description.

Already frequent opponents in the same division, Denver and Minnesota continue to find themselves meeting in the playoffs. Both have a superstar leading the way, though only one has led his team to a championship.

Anthony Edwards is looking to break through against Nikola Jokic and send the title-hopeful Nuggets home early, with a third consecutive trip to the Western Conference Finals on Minnesota's mind. 

As the next chapter in the rivalry between the Nuggets and Timberwolves is written, here's a look back at their history against one another in the playoffs. 

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Nuggets-Timberwolves playoff record

The Timberwolves are 9-8 against the Nuggets in the playoffs, with two series to Denver's one. The two first met in the playoffs in 2004, when Kevin Garnett made his deepest run in a Minnesota uniform, and they met again in 2023 and 2024 with the two sides splitting series wins. 

Nuggets-Timberwolves all-time record

The Nuggets lead the way with a 100-70 head-to-head record against the Timberwolves through the end of the 2025-26 regular season. Denver is 92-61 against Minnesota in the regular season. 

Last time Nuggets and Timberwolves played in the playoffs

The Nuggets and Timberwolves last met in the playoffs in 2024, when the script flipped from 2023 and Minnesota advanced after a stunning 20-point comeback in Game 7 of the West semifinals. 

The two rivals met in the playoffs back-to-back years, with Denver winning handily as the No. 1 seed in the first round of the 2023 playoffs but the Timberwolves coming back for revenge against a thinner Nuggets team in 2024. It looked like the Nuggets would survive and advance to the Western Conference Finals until Minnesota found new life late in Game 7 and shocked the Ball Arena crowd.

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How many times have the Nuggets and Timberwolves played in playoffs?

The Nuggets and Timberwolves have met three times in the playoffs before 2026, though 2026 will mark their third playoff series in a span of four seasons.

Denver and Minnesota first met in the playoffs in 2004, when rookie Carmelo Anthony wasn't nearly enough to match Kevin Garnett in the first round. With the Timberwolves failing to make the playoffs again until 2018, these two didn't see each other after the regular season a second time until 2023.

The two did meet on the final day of the regular season with the No. 8 seed in the West on the line. While not a playoff game, the Timberwolves won to snap their playoff drought and eliminate the Nuggets.

Here's a complete look at their three series against one another.

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2004 first round: Timberwolves win, 4-1

Series summary

The Timberwolves were under heavy pressure to finally advance past the first round after seven consecutive series losses, and they didn't let it get in their heads as the No. 1 seed. Minnesota handled business against the Nuggets, winning two home games by double-digits to start the series and bouncing back with an 84-82 road win after letting Game 3 become a rout in favor of the Nuggets.

The Timberwolves won the series in five games, eliminating Denver after returning back home for Game 5.

Key players

The series win was a breakthrough for Kevin Garnett, who had an excellent statistical series, while Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell played key scoring roles next to the Hall of Famer. Voshon Lenard led the Nuggets in scoring while rookie Carmelo Anthony struggled on the offensive end. 

Notable stats

• Kevin Garnett: 5 G, 25.8 ppg, 14.8 rpg, 7.0 apg
• Sam Cassell: 5 G, 20.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.4 apg
• Carmelo Anthony: 4 G, 15.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 32.8% fg

2023 first round: Nuggets win, 4-1

Series summary

19 years after their first meeting, the roles were reversed with the Nuggets as the No. 1 seed and the Timberwolves as the plucky No. 8 seed. Denver quickly slammed the door on a potential upset, winning by 29 in Game 1 and taking the second and third games of the series to pull in front 3-0.

The Timberwolves got one back at home, staving off elimination and sending the series back to Denver, but the Nuggets eked out a close victory in Game 5 to advance. The series served as a sparkplug for a Nuggets championship run.

Key players

Anthony Edwards led the series in scoring and did just about all he could to put the Timberwolves on his back, but even with Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert in the frontcourt, it wasn't nearly enough. Nikola Jokic nearly averaged a triple0double for the Nuggets, while Jamal Murray led Denver in scoring.

Notable stats

• Nikola Jokic: 5 G, 26.2 ppg, 12.4 rpg, 9.0 apg
• Anthony Edwards: 5 G, 27.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 6.4 apg
• Jamal Murray: 4 G, 31.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 5.2 apg

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2024 West semifinals: Timberwolves win, 4-3

Series summary

The Nuggets didn't always look quite like their championship selves in 2024, and it caught up to them in their second-round series against the Timberwolves. 

Minnesota quickly put Denver on the ropes with back-to-back road wins to open the series, but the Nuggets came right back and won three straight to put themselves on the doorstep of advancing. Anthony Edwards' 44 points weren't enough in Game 4, and the series turned on the Nuggets' home win in Game 5.

Or did it? The Timberwolves didn't look like a team intimidated by the defending champions in Game 6, holding the Nuggets to only 70 points in a 45-point rout, and Minnesota rallied from down 20 points to stun Denver on the road in Game 7 and clinch their first Western Conference Finals berth since 2004.

Key players

Most of the cores for each team were the same as 2023, as Karl-Anthony Towns was still on the Timberwolves' roster and the Nuggets kept the band together following their title with the exception of Bruce Brown's departure. Murray wasn't as effective as he was a year earlier, which ultimately doomed the Nuggets.

Notable stats

• Nikola Jokic: 7 G, 29.0 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 7.9 apg
• Anthony Edwards: 7 G, 27.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 5.7 apg
• Jamal Murray: 7 G, 18.0 ppg, 4.4 apg, 40.3% fg

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves playoff results

Here's a look at each game the Nuggets and Timberwolves have played against each other in the playoffs:

The Timberwolves enter their 2026 series with a 9-8 advantage, including a win in their most recent series against Denver.