In just a few days, the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves will go head-to-head for Game 1 of their 2026 NBA Playoff series.
The series will feature some of the most prominent centers in the game. Denver’s offensive superstar, Nikola Jokic, will be battling the defensive star, Rudy Gobert.
As the Timberwolves prepare for the matchup, Gobert met with reporters on Tuesday afternoon, following a Timberwolves practice session.
The Timberwolves’ star center had nothing but praise for Jokic ahead of the first matchup.
Rudy Gobert Speaks On Nikola Jokic Before Game 1
via Andrew Dukowitz on X: Rudy Gobert’s thoughts on Nikola Jokic after playing him so many times
“I think he’s a winner, whatever he does, he plays to win. He’s selfless, he tries to make the right play every time… I like his humility, I think he’s someone that doesn’t really care about the outside noise, he’s just here to show up, help his team win, and go home. I like that, I respect that.”
With Jokic and Gobert both playing in the Western Conference since 2015, they have faced off for a total of 32 games throughout their careers.
Gobert started his career with the Utah Jazz, but was moved to the Timberwolves in a major blockbuster trade a few years back. Over their last 10 battles, Gobert has struggled to slow down Jokic’s offensive attack.
The Nuggets center has averaged 58.5% fro the field and 40.7% from three during that span of 10 games.
Denver’s superstar has produced an average of 34.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.2 assists against Gobert since 2024.
Nuggets vs Timberwolves Brief History
Despite the personal success, Jokic’s Nuggets didn’t stand a chance against the Timberwolves last season. In four regular season games, the Timberwolves had a slean sweep.
However, the Nuggets got their bit of revenge this season. During their four meetings, the Timberwolves collected just one win. During the latest outing, which took place on March 1, the Timberwolves took down the Nuggets with a 117-108 win. That prevented a sweep for the year.
The Nuggets and the Timberwolves are scheduled for a 3:30 PM ET tip on Saturday, April 18.