Denver @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2018 ) Denver 103, Minnesota 101

Third-year guard Malik Beasley looks to follow up a career-best outing when the Denver Nuggets visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. Beasley poured in 35 points on 12-of-17 shooting as the Nuggets won their fifth straight game, 136-122 over the visiting Houston Rockets on Friday.

Beasley played 41 minutes with Jamal Murray (ankle) and Gary Harris (groin) sidelined and has made 21-of-31 shots while averaging 28.5 points over the past two games as Denver continues its rise with 15 wins in the past 19 games. "I think you have to along the way stop and appreciate what we've done," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said during his postgame media session in regard to the club moving into a first-place tie with the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference. "It's a fine line because I'm not saying stop and celebrate and think that we've arrived because we haven't. We have so much more to do." Minnesota halted a two-game slide when All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns knocked down a shot as time expired in overtime for a 99-97 home win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. Towns scored only 16 points after recording 20 or more in 16 of the previous 17 games.

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

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (36-15): Star center Nikola Jokic celebrated being named to play in the All-Star Game with 31 points on 12-of-15 shooting, along with 13 rebounds and nine assists in the win over Houston. "It's a huge accomplishment for me but my teammates gave me that (opportunity)," Jokic said in a postgame television interview after Friday's game. "They've been fighting with me and coach (Malone) gave me the chance. This gives me motivation to be better every day." Forward Torrey Craig scored a career-high 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting Friday during a game in which Denver scored 83 first-half points.

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (25-26): Minnesota continues to deal with backcourt injuries though it is possible that Derrick Rose (ankle) could return after a three-game absence. Point guard Jeff Teague (foot) will miss his sixth straight game while backup Tyus Jones (ankle) will sit out his eighth consecutive contest. Forward Robert Covington (ankle) will miss his 15th straight game and there remains no timetable for his return even though he did some light shooting after Friday's practice.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. PF Paul Millsap scored 25 points, which matches a season high, as the Nuggets recorded a 103-101 road win over the Timberwolves on Nov. 21.

2. Denver PG Monte Morris has made 15-of-23 shots over the past two games while averaging 19 points, 7.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds.

3. Minnesota G Jerryd Bayless played 43 minutes at the point and registered a career-high 12 assists against Memphis, and also scored 19 points for his fifth career double-double.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 125, Timberwolves 121