The Denver Nuggets will try to stay unbeaten when they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.
Denver has won its first four games by an average score of 116-102. The Nuggets have shown no signs of a hangover on the heels of a remarkable championship season.
A major reason for Denver’s continued dominance is the play of Nikola Jokic. The Serbian big man is averaging 26.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 8.5 assists this season.
In his most recent game Monday against the Utah Jazz, Jokic posted his 107th career triple-double with 27 points, 11 assists and 10 boards. He moved into a tie with LeBron James and Jason Kidd for fourth on the all-time triple-double list.
A triple-double against Minnesota would give Jokic sole possession of fourth place. He trails Russell Westbrook (198), Oscar Robertson (181) and Magic Johnson (138).
Minnesota is off to a much bumpier start as it prepares to face Nokic and the Nuggets. The Timberwolves have dropped two of their first three games, including a 127-113 loss against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
Atlanta erased a 19-point halftime deficit and left the Timberwolves vowing to do better.
Minnesota guard Mike Conley said he and his teammates were trying to do too much early in the season.
Anthony Edwards leads the Timberwolves with 25.3 points per game to go along with 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns (15.7 points, 10.0 rebounds) and Rudy Gobert (14.3 points, 13.3 rebounds) each are averaging double-doubles. The Nuggets could try to slow down Edwards by assigning Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to guard him. Caldwell-Pope has won the team’s “defensive player of the game chain” in all four of Denver’s games this season.
