The Nuggets leveled the series against the Timberwolves with a crucial second road victory.
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The Nuggets leveled the series against the Timberwolves with a crucial second road victory.
A Nikola Jokic showcased his prowess with 16 of his 35 points in the final quarter, while Aaron Gordon's stellar 27-point performance on 11-for-12 shooting propelled the Denver Nuggets to a series-tying 115-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.
A Jamal Murray ignited the Nuggets with 12 of his 19 points in the third quarter, building on the momentum sparked by his buzzer-beating shot from beyond half-court in the second quarter. Despite brief moments where the Wolves narrowed the gap, Denver maintained control.
Anthony Edwards dazzled with 44 points for Minnesota, shooting an impressive 16-for-25 from the floor. However, despite a 42-31 rebounding advantage, the Wolves fell short for the second consecutive time at home against the defending NBA champions. The Nuggets, fueled by the disappointment of dropping the first two games at home, outplayed Minnesota on their own turf once again.
A "Game 2 definitely served as a wake-up call," Murray acknowledged. "We came to understand that we can't afford to hold back."
The series heads back to Denver for Game 5 on Tuesday night.
Mike Conley contributed 15 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns struggled with a 5-for-18 shooting performance, resulting in 13 points and 12 rebounds. Rudy Gobert found his rhythm late, notching 11 points and 14 rebounds. However, the Timberwolves found themselves on the defensive for the second consecutive home game.
A Aaron Gordon remained flawless until there were 3:39 left in the game. A remarkable sequence saw the Nuggets score eight points in just 20 seconds, highlighted by Murray's improbable shot.
Coach Mike Malone praised Gordon's contributions, emphasizing his selflessness since joining the Nuggets. Malone noted, "What you love about Aaron Gordon since Day 1 when he put on that Nuggets uniform, It's always been about the Nuggets first. He is truly selfless."
A The three-day break between Games 2 and 3 didn't favor the Timberwolves, who suffered a 27-point loss. Coach Chris Finch expressed frustration, declaring his team "fat and lazy" after receiving excessive praise for their performance in Denver. The Timberwolves aimed to regain their edge immediately in Game 4 to keep the home crowd engaged, with Anthony Edwards leading the charge.
A The 2020 No. 1 draft pick wasted no time making an impact, scoring nine points in the opening four-plus minutes on Sunday evening before Jamal Murray even had a chance to touch the ball. With Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic taking on point guard duties to ease the load on Murray and his injured left calf muscle.
Following a subdued Game 3, Anthony Edwards was determined to lead Minnesota to victory, a task the Nuggets were fully prepared for. Despite Denver's efforts to stifle him in the paint, Edwards showcased his scoring prowess from all areas of the court.
A However, the rest of the Timberwolves struggled to capitalize when left open by the Nuggets' defense. Their missed opportunities weren't limited to just corner 3s, with botched tip-ins and Karl-Anthony Towns' initial seven missed shots highlighting their offensive woes. Despite Towns' unwavering effort and defensive contributions, he struggled to find his rhythm offensively, rarely drawing the fouls he sought.
A While the Timberwolves had demonstrated their formidable defense and impressive depth in the first two games, the Nuggets replicated that success on the road. When Denver's secondary scorers and bench players found their shooting touch, they proved to be a formidable force.
Aaron Gordon, Justin Holiday (10 points), Christian Braun (11 points), and Reggie Jackson (six points) combined to shoot 8-for-11 from beyond the arc. Their hot shooting sparked a decisive 26-4 run that spanned the first and second quarters, with the majority of those points scored while four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert was on the bench.