The Denver Nuggets entered the night as the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference playoff picture, and knew they couldn't afford another slip-up against a sub-.500 team. Through a half on Wednesday night at the Pepsi Center, the Nuggets are certainly playing like a team aware of its own need to play with a sense of urgency. Denver leads the Minnesota Timberwolves 68-47 after two quarters.

Rookie forward Kennth Faried continues to shine for Denver. Faried finishes the fhalf with 14 points and 10 rebounds on 5-of-7 shooting. Point guard Ty Lawson has 14 points and four assists on 6-of-9 shooting. Al Harrington, who is playing with a torn miniscus, has nine points and three rebounds. Guards Arron Afflalo and Corey Brewer each have eight at the half for Denver.

Jose Juan Barea has 10 points and four assists for Minnesota. Derrick Williams, Anthony Randolph, and Wesley Johnson each have nine points at the half for the Timberwolves.

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