Wolves Need To Dominate When Nikola Jokic Is On The Bench

The Wolves-Nuggets is more than about Anthony Edwards becoming a mega-star and a Jamal Murray calf situation. It’s about Nikola Jokic riding the bench!

Wait… what?

Did you know Nikola Jokic is good at basketball? The Minnesota Timberwolves do. The Denver Nuggets superstar is so good he falls within one of my favorite sports tropes. He’s so good, he can’t be stopped… he can only be contained.

Lame, I know, but whatever. It’s also true. Moreover, for the Wolves, this containment can only happen when Jokic is actually riding the bench, making Game 1 of Timberwolves-Nuggets more than just about the current god-like accession of Anthony Edwards and if KAT can do some stuff and/or if Jamal Murray’s calf is having a good or bad day.

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At the time of this writing, the Nuggets are sitting at -4.5 (per BetMGM) despite the only time the teams meeting with all main characters healthy (November 1) resulting in a Timberwolves victory. So what’s the deal with the line? Denver has the second best home record in the league this season, that game was literally six months ago (nearly a lifetime), and a true one-game sample-size of (mostly) healthy rosters isn’t a big one.

Editor Note: Check our Timberwolves-Nuggets live odds page to see the best price available!

In fact, if we want to try to include other games between the two in the regular season, in which the team with the most fastbreak points won, there’s not much to takeaway other than speed apparently kills.

Bush references in 2024, you’re welcome.

Anyway, Nikola Jokic is going to get his when he’s on the court. Anthony Edwards is going to get his when he’s on the court (and possibly, attempt stopping others from getting theirs). So why is the headline about the Wolves needing to win minutes with Jokic on the bench?

Ugh, because it’s obviously what they need to do. Moreover, it’s why I am going out on a limb to say — if they can be on the positive side in a meaningful way with Jokic not in the game (think plus eight or more) — snagging the Timberwolves at +4.5 is a gosh slam steal.

I’m not exactly breaking this thing down like some of the greats like a Matt Moore, Ben Rasa or whoever else you’re used to getting your advice from, but it’s not a complicated situation to me. Give me them Wolves riding the Anthony Edwards wave of awesomeness — despite being on the road — at +4.5 because I believe they will win the minutes with Jokic out of the game.

Well, if they are smart about their rotation they will. If they’re not, don’t blame the messenger!