Timberwolves Blow Out Nuggets to Extend Playoff Life
Game Summary: Minnesota Timberwolves 115, Denver Nuggets 70
May 16, 2024
The Minnesota Timberwolves put together a dominant performance on May 16 to extend their 2024 NBA playoff lives. The Wolves cruised to a 115-70 victory over the Denver Nuggets, evening the series at 3-3 and forcing a Game 7 on Sunday. The Timberwolves took control of the game in the third quarter. After Denver cut the lead to 55-53 early in the period, Minnesota went on an 11-2 run. Nikola Jokic assisted on four consecutive baskets during Denver's run, but the Wolves answered back with a 9-0 run of their own to take a 64-55 lead. Minnesota continued to pour it on in the fourth quarter. Anthony Edwards scored 10 of his 26 points in the final period, and D'Angelo Russell added 9 of his 22. The Nuggets, meanwhile, shot just 33.3% from the field in the fourth quarter and were outscored 30-15. The victory gives the Timberwolves a chance to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Game 7 is set for Sunday at Target Center.
Expert Recap and Analysis
The Timberwolves' victory was a complete team effort. Edwards and Russell led the scoring, but all five starters scored in double figures. Karl-Anthony Towns had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Jaden McDaniels had 16 points, and Rudy Gobert had 12 points and 14 rebounds. The Nuggets, meanwhile, were led by Jokic, who had 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. However, Jokic was not able to get much help from his teammates. Jamal Murray scored just 13 points, and Aaron Gordon was held to 12 points. The Timberwolves' defense was also a major factor in the victory. The Wolves held the Nuggets to just 38.3% shooting from the field. Denver also committed 17 turnovers, which led to 22 points for Minnesota. The Timberwolves will now have a chance to close out the series at home on Sunday. The Nuggets, meanwhile, will need to find a way to improve their shooting and ball security if they want to advance to the second round.
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