After an embarrassing 106-80 loss on their home court in game 2, pundits had counted out the Nuggets, debating whether the Timberwolves would sweep or gentlemen’s sweep them. Denver, however, reminded everyone what a championship team does and won the next two games on the road in Minnesota. They sealed the deal by winning game four, 115-107, at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sunday night.
“Never underestimate the heart of a champion. They were quick to write us off, but these guys, we won a championship a year ago,” Nuggets’ head coach Michael Malone said after the game. “This team has been tested time and time again, and we found a way to solve whatever’s been thrown at us.”
Photo Cred: SI
Aaron Gordon had his biggest game of the series, marking his third straight game scoring in double digits with 27 points. He shot a scorching 11-12 overall and 2-2 from three-point range, accompanied by seven rebounds and six assists. Nikola Jokic delivered yet another MVP-worthy performance, scoring 35 points on 15-26 shooting overall, with seven rebounds and seven assists. Jamal Murray added 19 points, shooting 8-17 overall and 3-7 from three-point range, including a remarkable 55-foot heave at the end of the first half, giving Denver a commanding 64-49 lead heading into halftime.
Timberwolves’ four-time Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert, likened Gordon’s performance to the late Kobe Bryant. “A lot of them were contested, so if Gordon turns into Kobe Bryant, we just got to live with that.”
Anthony Edwards continued his remarkable playoff run for Minnesota, scoring 44 points on 16-25 shooting overall and 5-8 from three-point range, along with five rebounds and five assists. Despite the efforts of all five Timberwolves’ starters, Karl-Anthony Towns struggled, scoring only 13 points on 5-18 shooting overall and 1-4 from three after a lackluster first half.
The first quarter was highly competitive, with the Nuggets holding a slim 29-24 lead going into the second quarter after a buzzer-beating baseline jumper by Jokic. Denver started the second quarter with a 12-2 run, extending their lead to double digits for much of the quarter. The turning point came when Edwards cut the Nuggets’ lead to 56-49 with 48 seconds remaining in the half, but Denver responded with a three-pointer from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, further extending their lead. Murray’s miracle heave just before halftime gave Denver a 64-49 lead.
Photo Cred: SI
The Nuggets maintained a double-digit lead throughout the third quarter, with Murray leading the charge. Minnesota entered the fourth quarter trailing 90-79. Despite several attempts by the Timberwolves to narrow the deficit, the Nuggets consistently stretched their lead back to double digits. Minnesota made a final push, cutting the deficit to 113-107 with 28 seconds remaining, but it was too late as the Nuggets held on for the 115-107 victory.
In addition to masterful performances by Jokic and Gordon, the Nuggets’ bench provided much-needed support, scoring a combined 27 points, including 11 from Braun and 10 from Holiday, who shot 3-5 from three-point range. In comparison, Minnesota’s bench only contributed 13 points, mainly led by Naz Reid’s 11 points on 5-6 shooting. The Nuggets shot a scorching 57% overall and 44.8% from three, compared to Minnesota’s 47.6% overall and 39.3% from three.
Although Minnesota won the rebounding battle 42-31 and scored 20 points off 12 Nuggets’ turnovers, they struggled from the free-throw line, shooting only 18-27, while the Nuggets went 12-15. The Nuggets became only the eighth team in NBA history to tie a series 2-2 after losing games one and two at home, breaking their 0-11 all-time record in such a series. The Nuggets will look to be the first team to win at home this series as it turns back to Denver for game five.
