Nuggets go for fifth straight with Timberwolves

The Denver Nuggets have recovered from a disappointing road trip with a strong homestand. Friday will determine if they head into another couple of hard road matches on a winning streak or another disappointing defeat.

The Nuggets are 4-0 since losing three of four games on an Eastern Conference swing, and to get their fifth straight victory would require beating a struggling Minnesota team.

The Timberwolves have lost eight in a row and now embark on a four-game road trip.

Minnesota’s streak continued Wednesday night with a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans — a team which entered that contest on its own 13-game losing streak.

The Timberwolves played without star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who sat with a left knee sprain. They might be without him again Friday, a potentially big blow going versus the Northwest Division-leading Nuggets with the season going south quickly.

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“We’ve just got to keep playing,” Timberwolves forward Robert Covington said after the loss to New Orleans. “It’s easy to lose faith. … Some people can get overwhelmed. Some people react or respond in the right way. We’ve just got to keep going.”

Minnesota coach Ryan Saunders acknowledged it has been tough on the team mentally.

“It’s heavy,” Saunders said. “When you lose games, it’s heavy. Especially on a streak. But I liked what we did the last couple days in practice. I know we felt good about those things.”

Denver has had its moments of self-doubt this season but has bounced back each time. Following Friday’s game, the Nuggets will be in Los Angeles on Sunday to play the Lakers — and look to atone for L.A.’s victory in Denver on Dec. 3.

If Towns doesn’t play, it will help Denver’s interior defense and possibly give center Nikola Jokic more room to work. Jokic is a big reason for the four-game winning streak and nearly had his third triple-double of the season Wednesday night (18 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds).

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