Version 1: In Minneapolis, Nikola Jokic had a big fourth quarter with 16 of his 35 points, while Aaron Gordon scored 27 points on an impressive 11-for-12 shooting to help the Denver Nuggets secure a 115-107 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Jamal Murrayย had 12 of his 19 points in the third quarter for the Nuggets in a momentum carryover from his buzzer-beating swish from behind the half-court line in the second quarter, and the Wolves only cut the deficit below double digits in the second half for brief stretches.
1. Anthony Edwards put up 44 points in yet another impressive game for Minnesota, making 16 of his 25 shots. However, despite outrebounding their opponents 42-31, the Wolves were defeated on their home court for the second consecutive time by the reigning NBA champions, who were motivated after losing the first two games of the series at their own arena.
Murray exclaimed, โGame 2 really got us going! We finally understood that we shouldnโt hold ourselves back.โ
Game 5 on Tuesday night will see the series return to Denver.
1. Mike Conley scored 15 points, Karl-Anthony Towns struggled shooting 5-for-18 from the field to finish with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Rudy Gobert stepped up in the end with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Wolves found themselves trailing at home for the second game in a row.
1. Gordon didnโt miss a shot until there were 3 minutes and 39 seconds left. The Nuggets managed to score eight points in just 20 seconds before the end of the first half, with Murray making an incredible shot.
1. Coach Mike Malone praised Aaron Gordon for his shot-making, play-making, physicality, and defense on two All-Stars. He emphasized Gordonโs selfless attitude and dedication to the Nuggets since Day 1.
The Wolves didnโt benefit from the three days off between Games 2 and 3. It resulted in a 27-point loss, and coach Chris Finch described them as โfat and lazyโ after receiving excessive praise for their performance in Denver. To maintain the crowdโs enthusiasm, the Wolves had to quickly regain their competitive spirit in Game 4, and Edwards took charge of that response.
In just over four minutes on Sunday evening, the 2020 top draft pick managed to score nine points before Murray even got a chance to touch the ball. Gordon and Jokic stepped up to share the point guard responsibilities, aiming to lessen the load on Murray and his injured left calf muscle.
Edwards came into Game 3 with a determined mindset to lead Minnesota to victory, just as the Nuggets anticipated. Despite their efforts to defend him in the paint, he showcased his skills from all over the court, leaving no stone unturned.
1. The Wolves missed several opportunities to capitalize on Denverโs defensive lapses. They werenโt just missing corner 3s, but also tip-ins near the rim. Towns struggled with his shooting, going 0-7 in his first attempts. Despite his solid effort and defense, he had trouble finishing at the basket and getting fouls called in his favor.
1. The Wolves flexed their top-notch defense and impressive depth in the first two games, but the Nuggets replicated that strategy on the away court. If the Nuggetsโ supporting scorers and reserves keep making their shots, they become a formidable opponent to face.
Gordon, Justin Holiday, Christian Braun, and Reggie Jackson were on fire from beyond the arc, going 8-for-11 collectively. Their hot shooting sparked a 26-4 run that spanned the first and second quarters. Interestingly, most of those points were scored while Gobert, the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was taking a breather on the bench.
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