Denver Nuggets Secure Playoff Win Against Minnesota Timberwolves

DENVER — Jamal Murray was on fire, scoring 30 points and hitting all 16 of his free throw attempts, while Nikola Jokic notched a triple-double as the Denver Nuggets rallied from an early deficit to triumph over the Minnesota Timberwolves, 116-105, in the first round of their playoff series on Saturday.

Jokic contributed significantly with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, despite facing some tough physicality—he even suffered a bloody nose during the game. The matchup was intense, showcasing a total of 42 fouls. This included Jaden McDaniels receiving an unsportsmanlike technical for shoving Jokic and another technical called on Nuggets coach David Adelman.

Remarkably, Denver has now won 13 consecutive games since a defeat on March 18th.

Murray and his team found themselves trailing by as much as 12 points early, but a decisive 17-2 run in the third quarter helped them to take control. The Timberwolves struggled during this period, remaining scoreless for over four minutes. They did claw back a bit, narrowing the score to 97-95 with a little over six minutes left in the game.

Jokic helped keep the lead intact while Murray made a critical half-court shot that grazed the rim, resetting the shot clock and leading to a dunk by Aaron Gordon—who managed 17 points despite early foul trouble—extending the Nuggets’ lead to 108-101 with just 1:50 remaining.

Looking ahead, Game 2 is set for Monday night.

Anthony Edwards scored 22 points while battling through discomfort in his right knee, and Donte DiVincenzo added some outside shooting, nailing four 3-pointers.

It’s worth noting how evenly matched these teams are; since the 2022-23 season, the Nuggets hold a slight edge with a 15-14 record in both regular season and playoff contests against the Timberwolves. Both squads have also taken playoff series from each other during that time.

The first quarter saw two challenges arise, including Adelman’s technical and McDaniels’ flagrant foul on Murray that didn’t allow him enough space to land after a jump. Additionally, Gordon faced early foul trouble, racking up three fouls, one of which led to that technical call on Adelman.