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Round 3 in the Rocky Mountain rivalry

Nick Halter

Two basketball players stand on a court; Jamal Murray in white jersey smiles beside Anthony Edwards in purple, as a blurred crowd watches. — Jamal Murray and Anthony Edwards will go head to head again. Photo: David Berding/Getty Images

The Timberwolves' quest for a third straight trip to the Western Conference Finals — and maybe more — begins Saturday against a familiar foe.

Why it matters: This is a pivotal postseason for the Wolves. If they bow out early, it could prompt a shakeup of the roster and put head coach Chris Finch's job in jeopardy.

But if they make another deep run, it could help boost public sentiment as the team seeks subsidies for a new arena.

Flashback: This will be the third recent postseason series between Minnesota and Denver, with the Nuggets winning in 2023 and the Wolves in 2024.

Denver is once again the heavy favorite.

What we're watching: Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid have dealt with injuries in the latter part of the season. They got some rest over the past two weeks, and their health will be vital in the matchup.

State of play: The Nuggets are led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokić alongside Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.

They have the NBA's best offensive rating but rank only 21st in defense.

Details: Saturday's Game 1 tipoff is at 2:30 pm and you'll need Amazon Prime to watch.

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Round 3 in the Rocky Mountain rivalry

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