Jokic’s outlook is shared by a seasoned core, including Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun, who have played deep into the postseason before. Denver has also added depth with Bruce Brown, Jonas Valanciunas, and Tim Hardaway Jr., while Spencer Jones has emerged as a capable 3-and-D option alongside Cameron Johnson.
The Nuggets earned the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and will open the playoffs against the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves. It’s a rematch of a 2024 series in which Minnesota upset Denver in seven games after the Nuggets captured the 2023 title, underscoring the volatility of the matchup.
For Jokic’s counterpart in Minnesota, Anthony Edwards, the threat is clear. Jokic praised Edwards’ on-ball creation, change of pace, and ability to finish at multiple levels, calling him one of the hardest players to guard. Edwards finished the regular season with 28.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, shooting 39.9% from three.
Jokic himself has had another elite season, averaging a triple-double with 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game. The Nuggets will rely on that production, plus their depth, as they begin their Round 1 series with home-court advantage for Games 1 and 2 in Denver, before the series shifts to Minnesota for Games 3 and 4, with a potential full seven-game set into late April.
