NBA Western Convention semis: Minnesota stun NBA champs Denver in Recreation 1 | Basketball Information

Anthony Edwards’s 43 factors led Minnesota Timberwolves’ 106-99 dwelling win over Denver Nuggets.

Anthony Edwards scored 43 factors, Karl-Anthony Cities completed with 20 and the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves took home-court benefit from Denver with a 106-99 win over the Nuggets in Recreation 1 of a Western Convention semifinal sequence.

Naz Reid scored 14 of his 16 factors within the fourth quarter, Mike Conley had 14 factors and 10 assists and Rudy Gobert grabbed 13 rebounds for Minnesota, which pulled away to start the postseason 5-0.

“They’re defending champs, they’re a tough crew to beat. Nice crew. They bought nice gamers,” Edwards mentioned of the Nuggets.

“They bought the perfect participant within the league with Nikola Jokic, they bought the perfect nearer with Jamal Murray, the perfect 3-point shooter with Michael Porter Jr So, it’s robust to beat this crew.”

Recreation 2 is in Denver on Monday.

Anthony Edwards places on a present and drops a playoff career-high to elevate the @Timberwolves to the Recreation 1 win in Denver!

Karl-Anthony Cities: 20 PTS (8-13 FGM), 4 REB
Naz Reid: 16 PTS (14 in 4Q), 4 REB
Nikola Jokic: 32 PTS, 8 REB, 9 AST, 3 STL

Recreation 2: Monday, 10pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/iirmYPip3j

— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2024

Jokic had 32 factors, Porter added 20 and Murray completed with 17, all within the second half, for the Nuggets, who’re trailing in a playoff sequence for the primary time since dropping to the Golden State Warriors within the first spherical in 2022.

It was a decent sport early within the fourth, however the Timberwolves have been extra poised down the stretch.

Conley hit his third 3-pointer of the sport to offer Minnesota an 80-77 lead, however Murray answered from deep and was fouled by Cities. He then proceeded to finish the four-point play.

Edwards, who had 25 factors within the first half, hit a driving layup by means of visitors and a pullup 18-footer to place the Timberwolves again in entrance. Reid hit a pair of 3-pointers, transformed a layup and dunked an Edwards miss to offer Minnesota a 94-88 lead with 4:20 left.

Jokic transformed a three-point play, however the Timberwolves then began to place the sport away. Gobert made a layup and banked in a 13-footer and Edwards sank two free throws. Porter dedicated an offensive foul, and Edwards’ 14-foot fadeaway made it 102-91 with 1:36 left.

Jokic’s 3-pointer reduce Denver’s deficit to 102-96 with 1:02 to go, however the Timberwolves closed it out.

Minnesota jumped out to an 18-4 lead with 5:12 left within the first quarter, however the Nuggets turned up the defence. They pressured seven turnovers and held the Timberwolves to 22 factors within the remaining 17 minutes of the primary half to guide 44-40 at intermission.

Cities and Conley had 11 factors apiece within the third quarter to assist put Minnesota forward 73-71 going into the fourth.

“An 18-4 begin, so we get down early, battle like hell to take the lead at halftime, then we performed no protection within the third,” Denver coach Michael Malone mentioned.

“You’ll be able to’t simply commerce baskets with that crew.”