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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 29: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves wears a shirt that says "Stand With Minnesota" during warmups prior to the start of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center on January 29, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves are playing the first round of the NBA Playoffs with the series tied 1-1, and through the opening two games, both sides have exchanged strong words back and forth.
Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves was the first to claim that there is a rivalry between Denver and Minnesota, and now, heading into Game 3 of the series, the rivalry only appears to be heating up.
Stemming from comments made by Jaden McDaniels on all of the Nuggets’ players, including Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon, all being ‘bad defenders,’ an ensuing back-and-forth between both sides has led to a seemingly confirmed ‘beef’ between Denver and Minnesota.
After the Timberwolves’ Game 2 win over the Nuggets, McDaniels stoked the fire by claiming that Minnesota’s game plan was to attack the ‘bad defenders’ of Denver, a comment that went viral shortly after.
Jaden McDaniels, deadpan delivery, on what worked for the Timberwolves offensively.
Jaden: Go at Jokic, Jamal, all the bad defenders. Tim Hardaway, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, their whole team.”
Q: They’re all bad defenders?
Jaden: “Yeah, they’re all bad defenders.”
“Go at Jokic, Jamal, all the bad defenders. Tim Hardaway, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, their whole team,” he said. “Yeah, they’re all bad defenders.”
The day after, once the series was evened up 1-1, Nuggets head coach David Adelman responded to McDaniel’s comments.
“I can’t wait for his podcast,” Adelman said. “It’ll help his social media.”
Nuggets coach David Adelman on Jaden McDaniels calling the Nuggets defenders out by name
“I can’t wait for his podcast.”
“It’ll help his social media.”
“What’s our defensive rating in this series?”
109
“How is that?”
Sixth best in the playoffs
“Ok. Next.”
Denver players Cam Johnson and Christian Braun also addressed what McDaniels said.
“They just been saying a lot. All season, all series. Let them talk. Let them get everything they want off their chest,” Johnson said of the situation.
“It’s part of the rivalry,” Braun added. “He’s kinda speaking his truth and what he believes. We’ll allow them to do that. We kinda want to take care of our own.”
In the most recent iteration of the ‘beef,’ McDaniels responded to Adelman’s ‘podcast’ comments.
“I’m not tripping,” the Timberwolves’ wing said of the viral response to his ‘bad defender’ postgame words, before then addressing the coach. “He said what? I don’t know what he talking about. Podcast. Nah. That’s not me.”
McDaniels is averaging 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists on 44.8% shooting in the first two games of the 1-1 series. Regardless of if he backs up his ‘bad defenders’ comment, as Tim Bontemps of ESPN wrote on X, “These teams really hate each other, and it’s quite entertaining. Game 3 ought to be a lot of fun tonight.”
Denver and Minnesota have split the first two games of the series, one that was predicted to be one of the more entertaining first-round matchups.
So far, it has delivered, and both teams have been mostly healthy in Games 1 and 2.
However, heading into Game 3, both sides have a few key players listed on the injury report.
The Nuggets will be without Peyton Watson, as he has yet to play in the series, currently dealing with a right hamstring strain. Gordon is listed as probable with left calf tightness, but having him available is crucial for Denver.
“Peyton Watson getting some court work after Nuggets shootaround this morning in Minnesota. Remains out tonight with a hamstring injury, but Denver hopeful to get him back in this Minnesota series. Swing factor,” Anthony Slater wrote on X in a new Watson injury update.
Peyton Watson getting some court work after Nuggets shootaround this morning in Minnesota. Remains out tonight with a hamstring injury, but Denver hopeful to get him back in this Minnesota series. Swing factor.
The Timberwolves have Edwards listed as questionable in the lead-up to Game 3 as he continues to deal with the lingering knee injury that sidelined him for most of the final month of the regular season. However, he was questionable for the first two games, but ended up playing, so there are no real indications that he’ll sit out on Thursday.
Minnesota also recently added Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jaylen Clark to the injury report, both questionable with an illness.
The Timberwolves vs Nuggets series has been an exciting series so far, and another chapter of the rivalry between the two teams has been growing in between Games 2 and 3. Now, one side can take the lead in the series as it moves back to Minnesota.
Game 3 of the series tips off on Thursday, April 23, at 9:30 pm EST and will be live on Amazon Prime Video.
Eli Gregorski is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski
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