Christmas Showdown in Denver Features Top-West Clash DENVER (Interstat) — A marquee Christmas Day matchup in the NBA will see the Denver Nuggets host the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in a battle of Western Conference contenders. The Nuggets (21-7), who own the league’s second-best record, enter as 4.5-point favorites. The over/under is set at 229 points. Denver has won eight of its last 10 games, including a dominant 135-112 victory over Utah on Monday. Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic is averaging a near triple-double for the season and posted a 14-point, 13-rebound, 13-assist triple-double in that win. The Timberwolves (19-10) arrive in Denver having won seven of their last 10, most recently edging Milwaukee 103-100 on Sunday. Their success has been fueled by center Rudy Gobert, who is in the midst of a dominant stretch. Over his last 10 games, Gobert is averaging 14.5 points and 13.3 rebounds, including an 18-rebound performance against the Bucks. This contest is a rematch of Denver’s 123-112 victory in Minnesota on Nov. 15. The Nuggets also won the season’s first meeting 127-114 on Oct. 27. The head-to-head spotlight will again fall on the pivotal center matchup between Jokic’s all-around offensive genius and Gobert’s defensive anchor play. For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards is coming off a 24-point, 6-assist game, while Denver’s Jamal Murray scored 27 points in the win over Utah. Following Thursday’s game, both teams embark on challenging stretches. Denver begins a six-game road trip in Orlando on Saturday. Minnesota returns home to face Brooklyn on Saturday before starting a three-game trip in Chicago on Monday.