Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets Game 2 Preview, Picks & Odds for Monday, April 20, 2026

By Braxton Reynolds | Apr 19, 2026, 7:51pm

Game 2 between the Minnesota Timberwolves (0-1) and Denver Nuggets (1-0) is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC. Peyton Watson missed the opening clash, and he’s doubtful to play in Game 2. Denver needs him back as soon as possible because his athleticism, defense, and scoring are crucial additions to the bench.

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Betting Analysis

Anthony Edwards was not at full strength due to a knee injury, so Minnesota needed a great game from Julius Randle…it did not happen. Randle went 7-of-16 from the field and often forced up tough shots. It’s a poor matchup because he relies on bullying defenders in the post and Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokić are too strong for this strategy. Overall, Minnesota’s offense struggled to generate great looks.

On the other end, the Wolves could not prevent Jamal Murray from creating separation and subsequently found themselves out of position. He received a home-court whistle, but Murray legitimately earned the vast majority of his 16 free throw attempts.

Rudy Gobert deserves a shoutout. He was a defensive monster – especially against Jokić – and also contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Denver has to feel good about the Game 1 win. Its offense totaled 116 points despite shooting 27.8% from beyond the arc, and the Nuggets survived the non-Jokić minutes. They also have Peyton Watson potentially returning at some point to give the bench another weapon.

The best bet for Game 2 is taking Cameron Johnson to score 3+ points in the first quarter. He attempted five field goal attempts and four three-point attempts during the first quarter of Game 1, and it’s a replicable trend. Denver’s starting lineup has so many premier threats that Minnesota must often help off of Johnson and Christian Braun.

Johnson also has his confidence back after struggling through a slow start to the season and injuries. He’s a sniper who should be able to capitalize on the wide open looks that Nikola Jokić generates.

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Cameron Johnson O2.5 1Q Points (-114)
Score Prediction: Nuggets 122, Timberwolves 115

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Game Odds

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Game Information

Date: Monday, April 20, 2026
Time: 10:40 p.m. ET
Network: NBC
Location: Denver, Colorado
Venue: Ball Arena – 235.7 ppg; 22-19-1 O/U
Series Score: Nuggets 1-0

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Betting Resources

Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Key Players

Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards – Last Game: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists
Julius Randle – Last Game: 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
Jaden McDaniels – Last Game: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists

Nuggets

Nikola Jokić – Last Game: 25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists
Jamal Murray – Last Game: 30 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists
Aaron Gordon – Last Game: 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists

Braxton Reynolds

Braxton has been covering the NBA for Lineups since the 2022 season. He's worked with multiple collegiate coaching staffs regarding analytics and scouting, which has allowed him to understand the game on a deeper level. Braxton also currently writes about the Oklahoma City Thunder for Thunder Roundtable.