Following a dominant game one performance, the Denver Nuggets are back in action tonight as they look to push their series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves to two games. In game one, the Nuggets played arguably their best defensive game of the season limiting the Timberwolves to 80 points. The Nuggets effort and activity level on defense was the best it’s been all season and if they can replicate that not just tonight, but for the rest of the playoffs they’ll have a chance to potentially make it to the finals.

Building on that performance and showing consistency on defense is the biggest thing I’ll be keeping my eye on tonight as hopefully it wasn’t just a one time thing. The Timberwolves played like a tired, exhausted team in game one and did not get great performances from any of their big three in Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, or Rudy Gobert. Slowing down Minnesota’s big three will be priority number one for the Nuggets yet again and on the flip side of that Denver is hoping their big three of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. perform again how they did in game one.

If the Nuggets can find a way to win tonight, they’ll put a real stranglehold on this series heading into game three on Friday in Minnesota. A quick series would really benefit the Nuggets as they will be in for a dog night in round two against either the Los Angeles Clippers or Phoenix Suns. There’s a really good chance that series goes six or seven games, so the Nuggets beating the Timberwolves in four or five games would already give them a leg up on both of those teams going into the next round.

The Essentials

Who: Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (game two, Nuggets lead 1-0)

When: 8:00 p.m. MST

Where: Ball Arena

How to watch/listen: TNT. Show up in Denver. 92.5 FM KKSE Altitude Sports Radio

Expected Starting Lineups:

SAC: PG Mike Conley, SG Anthony Edwards, SF Nickeil Alexander-Walker, PF Karl-Anthony Towns, C Rudy Gobert

DEN: PG Jamal Murray, SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SF Michael Porter Jr., PF Aaron Gordon, C Nikola Jokic

Injuries: Nikola Jokic (right wrist sprain) QUESTIONABLE side note: I expect him to play, Collin Gillespie (leg) OUT, Rudy Gobert (back spasms) QUESTIONABLE, Jaylen Nowell (left knee tendinopathy) QUESTIONABLE, Jaden McDaniels (hand) OUT, Naz Reid (left scaphoid fracture) OUT