If the Denver Nuggets have played a West team multiple times, they have managed to have at least one win. Only one team has managed to evade their adjustments. The Minnesota Timberwolves mauled the Nuggets by 20 points tonight. This was their third straight victory against the Nikola Jokic-led side. And their plan was straightforward. Limit the things Jokic can do.

The Joker feels he is “playing the best basketball of my life”. And who can deny it? Over the last 10 games, he is averaging a triple-double scoring 25 points on a nightly basis. But what separates him is the degree of control he tends to have on games. His scoring output surely is tough to plan against. But the greater difficulty is preventing him from being selfless, something he loves to do.

That was the hurdle the Wolves managed to bypass with great colors. Because although Jokic scored 34 points, he could only connect with his teammates four times. To Julius Randle, taking that gamble with the three-time MVP is always better and he credited his teammate Rudy Gobert for doing a “great” job.

“He did a great job. I mean he’s an MVP, a tough cover. It’s hard to stop the guy but you know what I mean I’d rather give him 40 than 30-20 and 20,” the power forward admitted.

Gobert was critical in applying the pressure on Nikola Jokic. Even scoring-wise, when matched up against the Joker, the decorated defensive center allowed him to shoot just 41.7% from the floor. Aside from that, he could only dish out three assists when guarded by Gobert, a nod to the Wolves’ incredible team defense on the rest of the Nuggets squad.

They limited Denver to shooting just 40% from the floor. This was also the first time since November that a team had managed to constrict the Nuggets to score less than 100 points. Likewise, with Randle taking the Jokic assignment on offense and Anthony Edwards scoring 29, the Timberwolves soared to their sixth straight win.

This is their longest win streak this season and it’s due to the change in their mentality. Every contest is now a grudge match. And with such ferocity, it’s hard to contain this Wolves side.

The Wolves are taking everything personal

It takes much more than just hunger to consistently win against the reigning champions. You need to take these matchups to heart. The Minnesota Timberwolves do just that. With title aspirations on their minds, games against fellow contenders, each game means a little bit more. Yet while Chris Finch likes this mindset, he hopes that’s how his team can approach any contest, no matter the opposition.

“When we play these top teams and these teams that we have great familiarity with um you know we tend to take it a little bit more personal. You know we have to do that all the time um so we have confidence no matter who we step out we play. We said this before but sometimes the only team that we really fear is ourselves,” Finch said after the win.

The campaign had been frustrating in the middle parts of the season. The team seemed to lack chemistry or even a clear direction in games. Furthermore, injuries piled on, leaving Anthony Edwards isolated. That has changed heavily. Minnesota looks to be ferocious and in the mood for demolishing opponents just like they did last season.

But aside from organizing themselves offensively, their one trait is shining out. Ant-Man has said it before. The Timberwolves’ niche when it comes to winning is playing hardcore and succumbing to defense. That was present in plenty tonight. Now with their best rhythm this season, the Wolves are looking to soar in the standings.

And with how volatile the West is, a sudden shift in the standings isn’t totally out of the question.