The Timberwolves went small to climb back in the game, then went big down the stretch to steal an important Game 2 in Denver, limiting Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in the process.
“It’s hard as heck to guard those guys."
Story ⬇️
www.denvergazette.com/2026/04/20/t...
Nikola Jokic to @brendanvogt.bsky.social question about passing up the floater late: "I thought I had a pass. ... I should definitely take that floater."
This place would've went nuts if Jokic knocked down that 3 to end what was still a masterful third quarter. As it is, just a 93-90 Denver lead with 12 minutes left. Expect Anthony Edwards to play the whole fourth. We'll see how long Jokic sits for. Buckle up. #NBAPlayoffs
Nikola Jokic has come alive. He's got 14 of his 20 points in the third quarter and is an efficient 4-6 from the field. Finally making the Wolves pay for the small lineup they've been rolling with the majority of this one. Anthony Edwards up to 28 points, but he's played 31 min already. #NBAPlayoffs
Nikola Jokic finally gets in double figures a little over halfway through the third. He's got 7 assists, but just 2 since the first quarter. His offensive aggression has picked up in recent minutes with Minnesota going back to its small lineup with Gobert on the bench. #NBAPlayoffs
Nuggets are 5-18 on 3s since the first quarter. Wolves are 7-12. One team is generating the looks it wants and the other is not. #NBAPlayoffs
Minnesota had a 39-17 edge in the second quarter until Denver's 8-0 run to close the half. Important stretch after 10 straight minutes of the Wolves' small lineup torching various Nuggets lineups. Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle have 38 points on 12-25 shooting combined so far.
Jamal Murray, en fuego. Beats the halftime buzzer from half court against the Timberwolves (again) to get the Nuggets even at 64 at the break, despite a pretty disastrous second quarter. Murray with a game-high 23 points. Tim Hardaway Jr. the only other Nugget in double figures (14). #NBAPlayoffs
No Rudy Gobert at all so far in the second quarter and the move has worked wonders for Minnesota. It's allowed the Wolves to really lean into favorable 1-on-1 matchups for both Anthony Edwards (20 pts) and Julius Randle (18) with good spacing around them. #NBAPlayoffs
Non-Jokic minutes not nearly as successful as they were to start the second quarter of Game 1. Anthony Edwards starting figure out the wall the Nuggets defense is building and Minnesota is back within 8 after an 11-5 run to begin the quarter. #NBAPlayoffs
Just a hilarious stat line for Bones Hyland in the first quarter: 6 points on 2-2 FGs (both 3s), 1 assist, 1 steal and 3 fouls in 3:56... and he probably won't come back in the rest of this one until maybe garbage time. #NBAPlayoffs
That Anthony Edwards free throw was the Timberwolves' first point since the 8:30 mark of the first quarter. Over a 4-minute scoring drought with a 17-0 Nuggets run during it. #NBAPlayoffs
Nuggets are on a 10-0 run with Christian Braun headed to the line for one after a Minnesota timeout. CB has 7 of Denver's points, including another 3 right in front of the Minnesota bench.
Nuggets up 6 in the middle of the first.
Jamal Murray is no longer 0-fer from 3 in the series.
Still pretty surreal the crowd pop Aaron Gordon gets during pregame intros. So cool to see a player become so beloved by a city that’s the second stop in his career.
Denver freshman goalie and Frozen Four MOP Johnny Hicks takes the honorary first shot before Game 2 and of course he drains it. What can’t this kid do?
Round 1, Game 2
To end an answer about the officiating in Game 1, Chris Finch says “Maybe we’ve got to start flopping, too.”
Most of Finch’s earlier answer was similar to stuff David Adelman has said this season re: the game being called differently around the rim than the perimeter.
After the Nuggets built a 15-point lead in the third quarter of Game 1, the Timberwolves battled back to within 2 points midway through the fourth.
After that? Things fell apart.
“A lot of self-inflicted wounds.”
Story looking ahead to tonight's Game 2 ⬇️
www.denvergazette.com/2026/04/19/t...
Bangot Dak lands at Vanderbilt.
Former #CUBuffs forward Sebastian Rancik lands at Florida State.
@vbenedetto.bsky.social and I recap an important Game 1 win for the Nuggets that was fueled by, surprisingly to plenty, their defensive effort. Plus, thoughts on Jamal Murray's big game and Anthony Edwards' tough night for Minnesota.
Watch ⬇️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=95Dz...
David Adelman on Aaron Gordon's impact, despite the early foul trouble:
“We know what this is. When Aaron plays, we’re a different team. It’s not the stats, it’s the feel.” #Nuggets #MileHighPlayoffs
Nuggets going to take Game 1. Not perfect, but solid showing overall from Denver. Jamal Murray was excellent. Aaron Gordon bounced back after early foul trouble. Good stuff from key bench guys (THJ & Bruce especially). Oh, and a Jokic triple-double. Big after losing 3 at home in '24. #NBAPlayoffs
Career-highs for Jamal Murray in free throws attempted (16) and free throws made (16).
Nuggets are 90 seconds away from a Game 1 win.
Jamal Murray still hasn't made a 3, but Nikola Jokic tips in his latest miss to put the Nuggets back up 7 after the Wolves had just cut the lead to 2. Jok up to 23 points and is just 1 assist shy of a triple-double.
Not a good 4th quarter stint, but Nuggets ultimately finish +2 in non-Jokic minutes in Game 1. Still unsure how much of a role Jonas Valanciunas will have in the series as a whole, especially if Peyton Watson comes back.
Vintage two-man game on Denver's final possession of the third gets Jokic a bucket. Nuggets up 91-79.
Murray with 27-5-6. Jokic with 18-10-7.
McDaniels and Edwards with 16 and 15, respectively.
Big bench stint incoming.
Mr. Nugget didn't take long to find his groove after sitting the entire 2nd quarter with foul trouble. Denver has its biggest lead of the game at 7 midway through the 3rd. Nuggets pushing the pace off a bunch of long misses of Wolves 3s.
Up 11 FTs for Jamal at the half. Some really good stuff. Issue for the Nuggets is (surprise, surprise) defense. Timberwolves with 28-10 edge in paint points so far. Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert taking advantage the most.
