Minnesota has been a significant challenge for Denver, ending the Nuggets' title defense last year and sweeping them in four regular-season games this year. The Nuggets avoided facing Minnesota in the first round when the Los Angeles Clippers defeated Golden State, setting up a potential meeting only in the Western Conference finals.
The Timberwolves are set to face their own Boogeyman in the form of Luka Doncic when they play the Lakers in Game 1 of their first-round series. Doncic's dominance was evident in last year's playoffs, where he led Dallas to victory over Minnesota in the conference finals, showcasing remarkable scoring prowess and control over the games. The Wolves will need to find a solution to neutralize Doncic's impact to have a chance at success in the series.