In a commanding display, the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a resounding 106-80 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, extending their lead to 2-0 in the Western Conference semifinals against the reigning NBA champions.
Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge for the Timberwolves, both contributing 27 points each to their team’s impressive tally. The win marks Minnesota’s sixth consecutive victory in the playoffs, positioning them favorably to potentially close out the series with upcoming games in Minneapolis on Friday and Sunday.
Despite missing starting center Rudy Gobert, who was attending the birth of his son, the Timberwolves showcased formidable resilience. Kyle Anderson stepped up in Gobert’s absence, seamlessly integrating into the starting lineup and contributing to the team’s defensive efforts against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets’ offense.
The first half saw the Timberwolves seize control of the game with a dominant 43-18 run, leaving the Nuggets visibly frustrated. Head coach Michael Malone’s impassioned outburst towards official Marc Davis during a timeout underscored Denver’s mounting frustrations.
Jamal Murray’s frustration boiled over as well. Sitting on the bench, Murray was seen on video tossing a heat pack toward the court after layup by Karl-Anthony Towns. There wasn’t a call on Murray, but a warning from the public address announcer to the crowd not to throw objects onto the floor.. While Murray avoided immediate repercussions, his actions may result in disciplinary action from the league.
Denver’s struggles continued throughout the game, with Jokic and Murray notably faltering in the first half. Trailing 61-35 at halftime, the Nuggets faced their largest halftime deficit in a home playoff game in franchise history.
Despite Aaron Gordon’s early contributions, the Nuggets failed to establish momentum, with only Jokic providing significant scoring output among the starters in the first half.
The Timberwolves maintained their dominance throughout the game, entering the fourth quarter with a comfortable 82-60 lead and ultimately securing the convincing victory.
The loss leaves the Nuggets in a precarious position as they seek to mount a comeback in the remainder of the series against a relentless Timberwolves team.
