Patryk Stachowiak
Timberwolves Edge Nuggets in Game 2 Thriller to Even Series
Anthony Edwards posted 30 points and 10 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets 119-114 Monday at Ball Arena, tying their first-round matchup at 1-1. The series shifts to Target Center in Minneapolis Thursday at 9:30 ET on Prime Video.
The Nuggets have long struggled during stretches without Nikola Jokić on the floor, and Denver’s foul trouble compounded that issue Monday. Similarly, the Timberwolves faced their own complications managing minutes without Rudy Gobert, though Minnesota’s offensive attack thrived when their defense-first center sat early.
A Tale of Two Halves
Denver dominated the opening quarter, scoring 17 unanswered points and building a 39-25 lead through physicality and three-point shooting. Jokić scored just six points in the half, instead facilitating for teammates. The script flipped entirely in the second quarter when Minnesota attacked the paint relentlessly, forcing Denver to adjust. The Wolves outscored the Nuggets 39-25 in that period, mirroring Denver’s first-quarter dominance.
Edwards took control after his knee concerns subsided, accumulating 20 of his 30 points before halftime. Julius Randle matched that aggressiveness, scoring 18 of his 24 in the first half. Jamal Murray delivered a stunning halftime buzzer-beater from 51 feet to reset the contest at 64-64.
“We had a great first quarter, they had a great second quarter, the game basically restarted from there,” Denver head coach David Adelman said.
Second Chances Swing Momentum
The second half produced eight lead changes and three ties, with neither team leading by more than six points. One critical disparity emerged: Minnesota’s offensive rebounding. The Timberwolves built a stunning 20-3 advantage in second-chance points, consistently keeping possessions alive when Denver pushed to run tempo.
“Every time we made a run, it felt like that’s what stopped the run,” Adelman acknowledged. “That’s something we have to clean up as a team.”
Edwards and Murray combined for 60 points, with Edwards dominating the pace down the stretch. Randle provided crucial production off the bench, particularly in the final moments.
Gobert’s Defensive Anchor
Early foul trouble limited Gobert’s minutes in the second quarter, which paradoxically freed Minnesota’s offense to operate more fluidly in the paint. Without the elite rim protector lurking, Edwards and Randle found driving lanes against Denver’s interior defense.
Down the stretch, Gobert returned and became the defensive lynchpin Minnesota required. He contested Jokić’s three-point attempts, defended the post aggressively, and forced the Nuggets MVP to work for every bucket. Jokić did finish with 24 points despite Gobert’s presence, but the pressure mounted in critical moments.
“I want to give a shoutout to Big Ru, man,” Randle said. “What he did, especially in that fourth quarter, how he guarded Jokić, it was super-inspiring to the team. Him getting stop after stop at the end of the game was huge to us.”
Edwards echoed that sentiment: “I told him ‘Brother, we’re half the team when you’re on the bench. People don’t understand what he means to us when he’s on the floor. People don’t want to lay the ball up, people just don’t want to go at Rudy.”
Late Regrets for Denver
With the score at 115-113, Jokić possessed the ball near the foul line with a chance to tie. Rather than attack with his trademark finesse, he passed to Christian Braun, whose shot was contested. Braun missed the first of two free throws, leaving Denver down one with 19.1 seconds remaining.
“I should have definitely took that floater,” Jokić said afterward.
Randle sealed the victory moments later with two foul shots. Murray’s final attempt from 21 feet rimmed out with 11 seconds left. Denver never recovered.
“I needed to make the shot for it to go well,” Murray said. “I didn’t make it.”
The series resumes Thursday when Minnesota hosts Denver at Target Center, with both teams having proven their capacity to execute in the half-court. The Timberwolves have momentum, while the Nuggets must rediscover the offensive rhythm that led them past Denver early.
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