After securing a spot in the second round for the first time since 2004 by sweeping the Phoenix Suns, the Timberwolves made a statement by clinching Game One against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday with a score of 106-99. Rising star Anthony Edwards stole the show, leading all scorers with an impressive 43 points, shooting 17-29 overall and 3-7 from beyond the arc, along with grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out three assists. On the opposing side, Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets contributed 32 points, shooting 11-25 overall, while also securing eight rebounds and nine assists.
Photo Cred: ESPN
This marks the first time the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets, have found themselves trailing in a series since the 2021-22 postseason. Denver struggled notably with bench scoring, managing only 12 points compared to Minnesota’s 23. Naz Reid, named Sixth Man of the Year, showcased his prowess with 16 points for the Timberwolves, shooting 7-11 overall and 2-4 from three, with 14 of those points coming in the crucial fourth quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns and Mike Conley also made significant contributions, finishing with 20 and 14 points respectively.
Minnesota maintained an impressive 52.4% shooting overall, while Denver settled at 46.7%. Michael Porter Jr. continued his strong postseason performance for Denver, netting 20 points on 6-13 shooting overall, including 4-7 from beyond the arc. Despite a slow start, Jamal Murray, still grappling with a lingering calf injury, managed to tally 17 points, shooting 6-14 overall and 2-4 from three, alongside four assists. Aaron Gordon, after a standout performance against the Lakers, struggled once again, finishing with only 9 points on 4-6 shooting.
Photo Cred: Star Tribune
Minnesota surged ahead with an early 18-4 lead, powered by Edwards’ 13 points. However, the Nuggets swiftly responded with a 13-0 run, closing the gap to 18-17 with 1:56 left in the first quarter. The game remained tight throughout the first half, with Edwards leading the charge for Minnesota with 25 points by halftime. Although the Nuggets held a slim 44-40 lead at halftime, Minnesota’s Reid and Conley combined for 30 points in the second half, after managing just two points in the first.
The third quarter saw both teams trading blows, with the Nuggets entering the final quarter with a narrow 73-71 lead. Murray’s four-point play gave Denver an 81-80 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Edwards quickly responded with a 4-0 run. Christian Braun’s clutch three-pointer tied the game at 84 with 6:24 remaining. However, Minnesota seized control with an 8-0 run, effectively sealing the victory with a commanding 102-91 lead and 1:36 left on the clock.
Assistant coach Micah Nori stepped up as head coach for Minnesota, filling in for the sidelined Chris Finch, who suffered a torn tendon in the previous round and underwent surgery. This marks the second consecutive postseason meeting between Minnesota and Denver, with the Nuggets winning the first-round series 4-1 last season. As the series progresses, the Nuggets aim to bounce back and secure a win in Game Two at home, while the Timberwolves seek to extend their lead to 2-0 against the defending champions before heading to Minnesota for Games Three and Four.
