The expectation is that the Oklahoma City Thunder will take control of the Northwest Division in the NBA, leaving the remaining 4 teams fighting for the scraps. It is certainly shaping up that way right now, with OKC opening up a lead at the top, and just 3 games separating 2nd from 5th. That makes each divisional game a crucial one, which is why the match-up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets on Friday night in Denver is going to be so interesting.
NBA Odds and Game Preview: Timberwolves at Nuggets
Date: Friday, December 11th, 2015 Time: 9:00PM Venue: Pepsi Center Opening Line: Denver -1
Kobe Bryant on going head to head with KG one last time in MN, and the bright future of the young #Twolves squad: – https://t.co/3o9pwovQuT
— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 10, 2015
It is Minnesota (9-12) who hold a game and a half advantage over Denver at the moment, but they still need to do better if they have any hope of cracking the playoff picture. They sit a game back of the Houston Rockets for the final spot in the West right now, and have to be more than a little relieved that things in the conference are a whole lot tighter than anyone expected them to be. Minnesota did a nice job of getting themselves back to .500 after a 3-game win streak at the end of November, but they dug themselves right back into a hole by losing the next 4. They did right the ship a little with a 123-122 OT win over the Lakers last time out, but it has to be said that a victory against LA is not really considered a major achievement these days. A road game may be just what the doctor ordered for Minnesota, as 6 of their 9 wins have come away from home this season.
The Denver Nuggets (8-14) are currently occupying the bottom spot in the Northwest Division, and are looking like a pretty good bet to stay there. You know your team is in trouble when their biggest achievement in recent weeks is getting a win to bring an 8-game losing skid to a halt. They have managed to win 2 of their last 3 games, but when you consider that one of those was a single point win over the 76ers, you really do have to question as to whether or not those victories can be viewed as a sign of improvement. Scoring just 96.1 PPG so far this season, the Nuggets are going to have to be a whole lot better on defense than they have been so far. The fact that they gave up 105 points in both of their recent wins tells you that there is a way to go for that to happen.
