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Minnesota Timberwolves players react during a playoff game as injuries to key guards pile up ahead of Game 6 against the Nuggets.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are running out of healthy bodies at the worst possible time.

Ahead of a must-win Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota added another key name to its growing injury report, with Bones Hyland listed as questionable due to left knee soreness.

That development comes as the Timberwolves are already without Donte DiVincenzo (right Achilles tendon repair) and Anthony Edwards (left knee bone bruise), leaving their backcourt severely depleted heading into Thursday’s elimination game.

Timberwolves Facing Backcourt Crisis in Game 6

GettyBones Hyland of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots against Spencer Jones of the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter of Game Three of the First Round of the 2026 NBA Western Conference Playoffs.

Hyland’s status looms large given the current roster situation.

The 25-year-old guard has quietly become a key contributor in the series, averaging 8.4 points, 2.0 assists and 1.4 rebounds across the first five games. He is coming off his best performance of the matchup, scoring 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting in Game 5 — a much-needed bounce-back after going 0-for-5 from beyond the arc in Game 4.

With Edwards and DiVincenzo sidelined, Hyland was in line for an expanded role. If he is unable to play, Minnesota would be forced to lean heavily on veterans like Mike Conley and Kyle Anderson, along with Terrence Shannon Jr., to stabilize their lean bench.

Nuggets Regain Momentum Behind Nikola Jokić

Meanwhile, the defending champions have regained their footing.

Nikola Jokić delivered a dominant triple-double performance in Game 5, finishing with 27 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds to lead Denver to a 125-113 victory that extended the series.

Jokić’s performance marked his 23rd career playoff triple-double — third all-time — as the Nuggets rediscovered their offensive rhythm after struggling earlier in the series.

Jamal Murray added 24 points, while Denver’s supporting cast provided a spark to help stave off elimination.

Timberwolves Still One Win Away — But Margin Shrinks

Despite the loss, Minnesota still holds a 3-2 series lead and will return home with another chance to close out the series.

“They’re a championship team. They have championship DNA,” said Julius Randle after Game 5. “We get to go back to Minnesota and have a chance to close it out.”

But the margin for error has clearly tightened.

Minnesota struggled with turnovers in Game 5, committing 25 giveaways, and was unable to withstand Denver’s offensive surge after falling behind by as many as 27 points.

The absence of Edwards — the team’s primary offensive engine — has already reshaped the series. Losing another guard like Hyland would further complicate their ability to generate consistent scoring.

Game 6 Stakes Rise With Injury Uncertainty

Game 6 now carries even greater urgency.

The Timberwolves have an opportunity to eliminate the Nuggets and advance, but their path has become significantly more difficult due to injuries.

For Denver, the mission is simple: win again and force a decisive Game 7 — something the franchise has accomplished before, notably during its 2020 playoff run.

For Minnesota, it comes down to survival.

And with their injury list growing, the question isn’t just whether they can close out the series — but whether they have enough healthy players left to do it.