Minnesota Timberwolves make statement in opener, Northwest roundup

The Minnesota Timberwolves set the early tone in the Northwest Division with a convincing 116-97 win over Milwaukee yesterday, the only game involving a Northwest team. That result immediately lifts them to the top of the section at 1-0, ahead of the Denver Nuggets (0-1) and a Utah Jazz squad that is also unbeaten at 1-0.

Timberwolves: strong start and cautious optimism around DiVincenzo

The 116-97 victory underlines the Timberwolves’ intentions in what should be a tightly contested Northwest race. While the current core banked an early win, attention also stays on Donte DiVincenzo. After suffering a serious Achilles injury, the guard is refusing to write off this season and continues to push through rehab. For Minnesota, the possibility that a potential rotation piece is still targeting a return remains a notable storyline as the campaign begins.

Nuggets: rough start, Brazile already drawing attention

The Denver Nuggets sit at 0-1 in the division. Beyond the shaky collective start, one bright spot is Trevon Brazile. The forward has already made enough of an impression in the Denver setup to be singled out among the key names around the Northwest, alongside Jaren Jackson Jr. and Darryn Peterson. For the Nuggets, seeing a newcomer attract attention this early is a welcome sign as the group looks to find its footing.

Jazz: depth moves, quiet day elsewhere in the division

Also in the Northwest, the Utah Jazz, currently 1-0, continue fine-tuning their roster. The team has recently made depth adjustments, in line with the kind of late-camp moves several clubs are making, such as Mike Sharavjamts signing on with the Orlando Magic. Without a specific name standing out in Utah, the activity still underlines that the Jazz are not done shaping their bench for the season ahead.

For the Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers, it was a quiet day: no games on the schedule and no reported roster changes. The Thunder (0-0) and Trail Blazers (0-0) are still waiting on their first action to see where they fit in a division currently led by the Timberwolves and Jazz.