There wasn’t much time for buildup, but with what there was, the superstars from Denver and Minnesota provided opposing viewpoints on the Battle for First Place.

In Minneapolis, Anthony Edwards did not sugarcoat it. “I think everyone knows what is at stake,” he told reporters. “I don’t even need to mention how enormous it is. “Everyone knows.”

In Utah, Nikola Jokic’s tone lacked interest. “I don’t think it’s a really big game,” he told reporters. “Yes, we will go out there and compete to win the game, of course, but I believe people are just making up stories about how big the game is. “Hopefully it will be interesting.”

After playing the night before, the Nuggets and Timberwolves met in the middle Wednesday for a thrilling regular-season finale that culminated in a cathartic dunk contest between Christian Braun and Peyton Watson. Denver pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 116-107 in front of a playoff crowd at Ball Arena, breaking the tie atop the Western Conference standings.

With two games remaining, the Nuggets (56-24) are poised to secure home-court advantage until the NBA Finals if they win both. The Timberwolves (55-25) still have a potential tiebreaker following a 2-2 season series split because to their superior division record, but Denver is solidly in control with games in San Antonio and Memphis.

Jokic may have placed the final touches on his third career MVP title with 41 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists on 16-of-20 shooting. Jamal Murray added 20. Aaron Gordon recorded a season-high nine assists. Braun posterized Rudy Gobert with his left hand late in the fourth quarter before executing an alley-oop seconds later.

Edwards scored 25 points but none in the fourth quarter.

The only way these teams may meet again before the Western Conference Finals is if Oklahoma City (55-25) takes the No. 1 seed from Denver this weekend. Given the quality and intensity of the basketball played Wednesday, the WCF would be a better fit. In a nail-biting first half, both teams made tremendous defensive plays. The Nuggets’ second-unit minutes are one of the most concerning components of this game, but Braun and Watson’s defense made those minutes adequately nasty for both benches, not just Denver’s. Watson set a career high with six blocks, culminating with a slam.

However, the Timberwolves countered by torturing the defending champions’ starting lineup with their length. Denver went into the halftime break with nine turnovers, three of which came from Murray, who was once again interrupted by Jaden McDaniels. McDaniels and presumptive Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert teamed for a stop against Denver’s two-man game near the end of the shot clock, which McDaniels converted into an easy transition bucket with a behind-the-back assist.

The stars took control in the third quarter. Jokic began bashing Gobert in the post. Edwards kept beating Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with his explosive first step, putting KCP in uncommon foul trouble. Edwards scored 15 points in the frame, while Jokic scored more than 30.

Regarding Jokic’s claim that this wasn’t a significant game, the two-time MVP was caught red-handed in the first quarter. The look on his face after he sunk a 3-pointer from the top of the key was not even reminiscent of his usual emotional moments. It was more of a sneer than a roar, as if to express the furious attitude of a Nuggets club finally ready to play in the playoffs.