The champions are back, and so is the MVP. With sizzling shooting and a stunning surge at the end of the second quarter, the Denver Nuggets secured a 115-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. After losing the first two games at home, Denver has tied the series at 2-2 and regained the home-court advantage they initially ceded in the Western Conference semifinals.
Game Overview: Nuggets Tie the Series
The Nuggets took control of the game with a 12-0 run late in the first quarter, leading 29-24. They continued their dominance with a 12-2 run at the start of the second quarter, extending their lead to 41-26. Anthony Edwards managed to claw the Timberwolves back within 56-49. Then, the Nuggets delivered a shocking blow to the Timberwolves’ hopes.
Explosive End to the Second Quarter
In an explosive 20-second burst, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope matched an Edwards 3-pointer with one of his own. Aaron Gordon then stripped Edwards, setting up a Michael Porter Jr. fast-break dunk with 1.6 seconds left in the half. As the clock ticked down, Jamal Murray stole an errant Nickeil Alexander-Walker inbounds pass and launched the ball from 55 feet, sinking it as the buzzer sounded. This capped an 8-0 run in the final 20 seconds of the half, extending Denver’s lead to 64-49.
A 16-point lead had been cut to seven and then re-extended to 15 in the blink of an eye. Although Edwards continued to lead the Timberwolves’ fight after halftime, Minnesota never fully recovered.
Denver’s Strong Second Half
Minnesota cut its deficit to 113-107 in the final minute, but the Nuggets maintained a double-digit lead through most of the second half. They head back to Denver for a pivotal Game 5, having regained their confidence after being outmatched in the first two games.
Nuggets’ Shooting Prowess
The Nuggets won the game with hot shooting from the field and beyond the arc. Murray, Gordon, and Nikola Jokić took turns in starring roles to counter a 44-point effort from Edwards. Denver shot 57% from the field and 44.8% from 3-point range. Four days after winning his third MVP, Jokić led the Nuggets with 35 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and a block, shooting 15 of 26 from the field and scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter.
Gordon had an outstanding game, hitting his first 10 shots and finishing with 27 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and a steal. Murray added 19 points, eight assists, and five rebounds, shooting 8 of 17 from the field and 3 of 7 from beyond the arc. He appears to have recovered from the calf injury that affected his performance in the first two games.
Bench Contributions and Defensive Struggles
Denver’s bench also played a crucial role, with Justin Holiday, Christian Braun, and Reggie Jackson combining for 27 points. They collectively shot 8 of 14 from the field and 6 of 9 from 3-point range, powering Denver’s surge early in the second quarter.
The Timberwolves, known for their strong defense during the regular season, struggled to contain Denver’s offensive onslaught. Although they shot well (47.6% from the field, 39.3% from 3), it wasn’t enough to overcome the Nuggets’ shooting.
Edwards’ Heroic Effort Falls Short
Anthony Edwards powered the Minnesota attack, scoring nine of their first 15 points. He maintained his pressure throughout the game, finishing with 44 points, five rebounds, and five assists while shooting 16 of 25 from the field and 5 of 8 from 3-point range. Despite his heroic effort, he didn’t receive enough support from his teammates.
Karl-Anthony Towns had a career-worst shooting performance in the first half, finishing with 13 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 5 of 18 from the field. Jaden McDaniels added 11 points and two rebounds, while Rudy Gobert posted 11 points and 14 rebounds. However, Minnesota’s front line struggled to contain Jokić and had no answer for Gordon.
Historic Comeback Attempt
Only five teams in NBA history have rallied to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first two games at home. The Nuggets have turned this series into a best-of-three as they attempt to become the sixth team to achieve this feat.
