In the second game of their Western Conference second-round series, the Minnesota Timberwolves stunned the NBA playoffs on Monday night by crushing the Denver Nuggets 106-80 on the road. With the win, Minnesota now leads the series 2-0 and Denver will have tremendous pressure to respond as the series returns to Minneapolis.
This was not a close match that was settled in the last seconds. The Timberwolves dominated right from the start, exhibiting a level of defensive zeal that impeded the Nuggets’ ability to score. Denver, whose scoring assault is best when balanced, was never able to settle into a groove. The current MVP, Nikola Jokic, was restricted to a meager 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting, a far cry from his usual impressive performance. Jamal Murray finished with just 8 points and was scoreless in the first half after returning from a protracted injury layoff.
The youthful talent from Minnesota, Anthony Edwards, was once again a formidable opponent. His impressive scoring repertoire was on display as he scored a game-high 32 points. Naz Reid added a vital 14 points, including several big baskets in the closing minutes, to round out a formidable supporting cast that included Karl-Anthony Towns’ 22 points and 12 rebounds.
With this victory, the Timberwolves—a squad eager to establish itself on the largest stage—have made a clear statement. They have come into Denver and taken control of the series against a club many consider favorites to make it to the NBA Finals, after surpassing expectations in the first round by eliminating the Memphis Grizzlies.
The following are some important lessons to be learned from Minnesota’s convincing victory:
- Star Emerges: Anthony Edwards is still having a breakthrough playoffs campaign. He has been Minnesota’s offensive catalyst in the playoffs, averaging over 30 points per game. It’s almost hard to stop his skill and scoring ability.
- Defensive Masterclass: The Timberwolves’ defense is incredibly deserving of praise for their victory. They pursued the Nuggets relentlessly around the court, causing errors and obstructing their offensive progress. Denver, which is used to having strong looks at the hoop, had trouble producing any obvious scoring opportunities throughout the whole game.
- Nuggets’ Struggles: Denver appeared to have a stale and fragmented offense. Against Minnesota’s physical defense, Jokic, who frequently serves as the team’s main facilitator, was unable to establish his flow. Murray’s comeback is still a work in progress, and the supporting cast could not live up to his expectations.
- Sequence Momentum Changes Extremely: Minnesota’s advantage in this series has grown significantly. In order to level the series, Denver will now need to win both of its games in Minnesota. In the past, teams trailing 0–2 in a seven-game series have just 10% of the time recovered to win.
The Nuggets are under a lot of pressure going forward. In order to engage Jokic more, coach Michael Malone will need to figure out how to open up his offense. The supporting cast must rise up since Murray’s health and performance will be vital.
The Timberwolves will concentrate on leveraging their home-court edge and keeping up their defensive rigor. While Towns hopes to become even more dominant, Edwards will want to keep up his scoring binge. Minnesota has a real chance to pull off a huge upset if they can continue to play at this caliber.
With a youthful, competitive Timberwolves club against an experienced Nuggets team, this series has all the makings of a classic. With the Timberwolves trying to seize control of the series and the Nuggets fighting to stay in the playoff picture, Game 3 in Minnesota is sure to be exciting.
