Denver Nuggets face mirror image in Minnesota Timberwolves

After a somewhat surprising opening night victory in Houston, the Denver Nuggets return home to Pepsi Center and play host to Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In the opening game of not just a new season, but in many ways a new era for the Nuggets organization, we saw in many ways what to expect from this team under new head coach Michael Malone.

As was evident during the preseason, the stagnant iso-heavy offense of the last two years that plagued the Nuggets was gone, and a more free-flowing, motion offense dominated the half court setting. The results were glowingly positive. On offense, the Nuggets shot 50.6 percent from the field and 48.1 percent from 3-point range. On defense, they contested the Rockets from deep, forced them off the 3-point line and held their own in the paint, where both teams scored 42 points a piece. Gary Harris was able to hold last year’s MVP runner up in check, as James Harden was able to register just 22 points on 6-21 shooting. Harden finished 2-12 from 3-point distance, but did go 0-6 on uncontested 3-point attempts.

The Timberwolves:

Exit Harden, Ty Lawson and the high powered Rockets attack and enter a Minnesota Timberwolves team who is in the midsts of a multi-year rebuild. After going 40-42 two years ago, Minnesota flipped Kevin Love to Cleveland for Wiggins and others, signaling that that a new era was upon the Timberwolves. What followed was a year of experimentation and growth for a squad which now boasts some of the top young talent in the league.

Reigning Rookie of the Year winner, Wiggins is looking to write the next chapter of what looks to be a special career, and he’s now paired with a big man in Towns he could be just as special. Minnesota surrounded those two with a plethora of veterans, much like the Nuggets have, in hopes that a professional environment littered with guys who have been around the league and know what it takes to be successful.

Kevin Garnett, Tayshaun Prince and former Nuggets guard Andre Miller are all set to play significant minutes for the rebuilding Wolves. Of course the Timberwolves organization was tragically struck with the passing of Flip Saunders, the man who helped bring this roster together, earlier this week and the entire coaching and NBA fraternity are mourning his loss. Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly spent time with Saunders in Washington D.C. and Malone spent time with Saunders last season, after being fired by Sacramento, when Flip reached out and invited Malone to come out and spend time with the team. The incredible part, Malone said he had no prior relationship with Saunders before Flip reached out. Class act.

Marc Spears of Yahoo! reported yesterday that Rick Carlisle, Melvin Hunt, Doc Rivers, Sam Cassel and a litany of other coaches and NBA personnel will attend Saunders’ funeral – including Malone and Connelly.

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle & Asst Melvin Hunt, LAC coach Doc Rivers & Asst Sam Cassell to take Mark Cuban's private jet to Saunders' funeral.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) October 30, 2015

Minnesota was victorious over the Los Angeles Lakers 112-111 in their season opener Wednesday night, thanks to 28 points and 14 assists from Ricky Rubio who was aggressive and looked for his shot early and often. Another veteran who the Wolves hope can pass on some of his touch, especially his shooting touch to Wiggins is Kevin Martin, who poured in 23 points off the bench.

The Nuggets:

Denver returns home in front of what will hopefully be an eager crowd who only saw the Nuggets once this preseason. The mile high, home-court advantage was something that Denver was known for throughout the George Karl era, yet somehow slipped away under Brian Shaw. It’s an advantage that will be critical to regain if the Nuggets plan on making significant strides this season.

“It’ll be great to come out here tomorrow night and we want to get this place back to being the toughest place to play in the NBA,” Malone said. “I think in the 10 years [Denver] made the playoffs they averaged 30 home wins a year. Last year was the lowest win total at home [we’ve] had in a long time and we have to make it a very tough place for teams to come in and get a win and that starts [tonight].”

You get the feeling throughout the city that there’s some significant buzz brewing about this Nuggets team. Coming off a productive and encouraging preseason, and an opening night rout of a Western Conference Finals team from a year ago, there’s no excuse for the crowd to not make their presence felt tonight.

“Oh, it’ll be great. We had a pretty good preseason, we had a great road win last night. I’m just hoping that our fans are getting excited,” Malone said. “We had the one preseason game obviously, wasn’t the greatest crowd, but I fully get that we have to give them something to cheer about and something to feel good about and something that they want to come watch and be a part of. Hopefully the vibe in this city right now is: Ok, maybe they have something over there. Maybe it is different. Maybe they are playing with a lot more competitive fire and playing the right way.”

The biggest draw tonight is of course Mudiay, who’s set to play his first game in front of the Denver faithful. (Mudiay didn’t play during the only Nuggets home game this preseason.)

“I hope this thing is rocking,” said Mudiay. “We played the Phoenix Suns here, I looked and I told some of my teammates, ‘Man, I got to change this or we gotta change this.’ because we’ve got to get it back to how the ‘Melo days and… I know I used to watch on TV as a kid, I used to think this was probably the loudest arena. We’ve got to get it back to that and try to bring a championship here.”

The rookie played admirably in his debut Wednesday night in Houston, registering 17 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists, but turned the ball over 11 times. Last season, only seven players recorded ten turnovers or more in a game.

Wilson Chandler is still out with a right hip strain and Jusuf Nurkic remains sidelined while rehabbing from a partially torn patella tendon in his knee, but every other player should be ready to go versus Minnesota.

Matchup to watch:

Harris vs. Wiggins. If Minnesota starts Rubio, Wiggins, Prince, Garnett and Towns, like they did in their opener, Harris would likely get the first shot on Wiggins. The second-year wing’s offensive game is still a work and progress but his athleticism alone makes him a threat ever time he touches the ball.