MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 30 (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves should not assume a win over the Denver Nuggets is automatic.

Troy Hudson scored 23 points in his debut with his new team as the Timberwolves nearly blew a 25-point lead before holding on for an 83-77 victory over the Nuggets.

NBA TV highlights from Nuggets-Wolves: 56k | 300k

Denver won just 27 games last season and spent the offseason beginning a rebuilding project that has it projected to be among the worst teams in NBA history. However, first-year coach Jeff Bzdelik has said his team will play hard, and they did in this one.

"Our young guys played hard and played well," Bzdelik said. "We made some mistakes, but they were mistakes made with great effort. We just need to execute better offensively. It's going to take time with these young players. "They have great energy. We had some pretty decent production tonight. They always didn't play right, but they played hard."

Rasho Nesterovic recorded a double-double on Wednesday. David Sherman NBAE/Getty Images

A year ago, Denver was 19-24 in games decided by 10 points or less, including a pair of one-point wins over Minnesota and a three-point loss here on December 26.

The Nuggets played without Marcus Camby (back surgery) and Juwan Howard (suspension) and relied heavily on a new cast of characters to stay in this one.

After a terrible start, the Nuggets rallied from a 66-41 deficit with 8:34 remaining in the third quarter by scoring 15 straight points. They got within 70-63 entering the fourth quarter, but lack of execution did them in down the stretch.

The Wolves made five of their first seven shots in the third period, opening the 25-point advantage when Anthony Peeler hit a 3-pointer. Before getting back into the game, Denver had missed six of its first seven shots.

But the tables turned for both teams. Chris Andersen ended the slump with two consecutive mid-range jumpers and James Posey added a layup to get Denver within 66-47 with 5:45 left.

Nene Hilario converted a layup and fellow rookie Nikoloz Tskitishvili made a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 66-52. Anderson scored Denver's next four points to cap the run.

While Denver reeled off 15 straight points, Minnesota missed 10 straight shots and committed three turnovers. The Wolves scored their first points in over six minutes when Hudson hit a jumper with 1:59 remaining.

However, Tskitishvili hit his second 3-pointer of the game, Kenny Satterfield made a jumper and Anderson had a dunk that got the Nuggets within seven.

"We need to continue to play hard and not be passive with a big lead," Hudson said. "We got away from the game plan when we got the big lead. Then we did run our offense, we made lazy passes. When you're up 25, it's hard to keep your focus. A young team like Denver just keeps playing hard and comes at you no matter what the score is."

Posey's layup made it 79-73 with 4:42 left, but Peeler hit a 3-pointer on the next possession, and the Wolves were never threatened thereafter as the Nuggets sloppy, committing four turnovers the rest of the way.

"It's not a moral victory, but there are some things we can build on," said Whitney, who was acquired from Washington on Thursday. "We have a team here and it's going to take every man for us to win. Tonight was a perfect example of that although we didn't come out with a victory."

Signed as a free agent from Orlando, Hudson scored Minnesota's first nine points. Peeler scored 14 points and Kevin Garnett collected 13 and 12 rebounds, including his 10,000th career point in the first half.

Playing for injured starter Terrell Brandon, Hudson scored his first points for Minnesota on a series of jumpers. He hit a jump shot with 34 seconds before halftime that stretched Minnesota's lead to 54-39.

"A win is a win," Garnett said. "There is a lot of anticipation, a lot of excitement for the first game. In the first half we ran the offense like clockwork. In the second half we ran out of gas and we had a mental lapse and they were able to make a run. As I've always said, there are no bad teams in the NBA, so you can't take any night off. It's good to be tested early and I'm glad it happened tonight."

Anderson finished with 16 points, one shy of his career high. Posey added 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Nuggets, who shot 40 percent (31-of-78) and committed 21 turnovers.