Minnesota @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 10, 2019 ) Denver 100, Minnesota 98

The Denver Nuggets look to complete a 5-0 homestand when they entertain the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Denver scored between 110 and 114 points in each of the four victories and looks to avoid a letdown against a Minnesota team that has dropped eight straight contests.

The Nuggets were in severe trouble when they trailed the Orlando Magic by 19 points in the third quarter on Wednesday but used a 24-0 burst to move ahead en route to posting a 113-104 victory. "Guys just want to win," Denver veteran power forward Paul Millsap said afterward. "We really weren't ourselves in the first half. It was sloppy. We weren't getting any stops, weren't making any shots. In the second half, we know what our staple is and that's on the defensive end, and finally we got some stops and got out and ran." The Timberwolves might be without star center Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) for a second straight game and they shot just 37.9 percent from the field without him in Wednesday's disappointing 107-99 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. "We had four days off, they're on a back-to-back, but you would think it was the other way around if you watched the game," Minnesota small forward Andrew Wiggins said of falling to a New Orleans squad that had lost 13 straight games. "They played harder than us. They got more of the loose balls. They played like they wanted it more."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), Altitude (Denver)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (10-16): The defense has been porous during the eight-game slide as Minnesota is allowing an average of 125, including outings of 139 and 142. As Wiggins pointed out, the Timberwolves had plenty of time to prepare for the Pelicans but were outplayed and saw their losing streak extend by another game. "When you lose games, it's heavy, especially in a streak," Minnesota coach Ryan Saunders said afterward. "I liked what we did the last couple days in practice. I know we felt good about those things. It didn't translate."

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (18-8): Denver coach Michael Malone was impressed that his club didn't pack it in during the third quarter against Orlando and kept on its game, prompting the turnaround. "In that first half I don't think we guarded anybody," Malone told reporters. "In that third quarter, (Orlando) had only 16 points and we had 13 straight stops. And now we can get out and run, play with pace and attack." Point guard Jamal Murray poured in 33 points for his second-best output of the season, trailing a 39-point performance against the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 17.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nuggets won the past five meetings, including a 100-98 overtime win in Minneapolis on Nov. 10.

2. Minnesota rookie SG Jarrett Culver (illness) sat out against New Orleans and is questionable for Friday.

3. Denver PF Paul Millsap (quadriceps) returned from a two-game absence to record 15 points and 12 rebounds versus Orlando.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 125, Timberwolves 111