The Minnesota Timberwolves, led by a stellar Anthony Edwards (43 points), defeated the Nuggets in Denver 99-106 this Saturday and took a 0-1 lead in this titanic Western semifinal.
The NBA was looking forward to this series: a huge duel between the reigning champion (Denver) and the best defense of the season (Minnesota), as well as a face to face between two of the most physical, tough and powerful teams in the league . The first installment did not disappoint at all with a high-flying, tremendously demanding and basketball game with capital letters that ended with the Wolves taking home court advantage from the Nuggets.
Edwards was sensational with a new personal record for points in the playoff and finished with 17 of 29 shooting (3 of 7 in triples), 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Minnesota, which dominated the rebound tonight (42 to 34), had just swept the Phoenix Suns 4-0 and had not played in a second round since 2004.
In Denver, Nikola Jokic almost hit the triple-double (32 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists) but lost 7 balls and did not shine in his aim (11 of 25, 2 of 9 in triples). Michael Porter Jr. contributed 20 points and 6 rebounds and Jamal Murray added 17, all of them after the break.
Minnesota went up to 14 in the first quarter in which the Nuggets recalled their weak beginnings against the Lakers, only now they are faced with a team with suffocating pressure. But Denver found an unexpected lifeline in Reggie Jackson, who came off the bench with a lot of energy and who orchestrated a monumental 21-5 run for the Nuggets to close an explosive first quarter ahead (25-23).
The heart rate did not drop in the second quarter but the attacks dried up: a scant 19-17 (44-40 at halftime) which reflected that taking free shots was incredibly difficult. The exception was Edwards, impressive with 25 points in the first half (10 of 17).
Both Denver and Minnesota adjusted their attacks, but the one who truly returned to the court inspired was Towns with 11 points and a phenomenal dunk in transition. Conley (11 points) also signed up for that offensive awakening, but Murray (11 points) also reacted to the Nuggets ( 7). Even so, the Wolves, with a huge 73.7% shooting, took that third chapter 27-33 and reached the outcome with a minimal advantage (71-73).
Towns' fifth foul was the only blot in a very intense final quarter in which no one saved any gunpowder. Murray scored a spectacular triple with an extra, but Reid responded in a big way with 14 points in the fourth quarter including two triples and a fantastic dunk (88-94 with 4.20 to go). The Nuggets ran out of time but, unlike Their comebacks against the Lakers, this time they did not decipher the rival defense and the Wolves, with a fadeaway basket from Edwards, took the lead in this series that promises strong emotions.
