The Minnesota Timberwolves exhibited a great defensive performance to thrash the Denver Nuggets 106-80 and take a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven NBA playoff series. The third-seeded Timberwolves relentlessly tormented Denver, claiming their second straight victory over the NBA champions as the series returns to Minneapolis for game three on Friday, May 10. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards each scored 27 points, but the standout performance was Minnesota’s smothering defense, which put Denver off their game practically from the start. The Timberwolves concluded with 11 thefts and 12 blocks, whilst Denver had only six steals and five blocks.
Surprisingly, Minnesota’s dominance was done without Rudy Gobert, a Frenchman and one of the Timberwolves’ defensive mainstays. Gobert skipped the game to be with his girlfriend following the birth of their kid earlier Monday. The generally unflappable Nuggets may also be without standout point guard Jamal Murray in Game 3. Murray was recorded on camera flinging a heat pack onto the court during the second quarter, heightening the prospect of a suspension when the event is investigated by NBA disciplinary officials.
That incident exemplified the Nuggets’ struggles in a game that Minnesota dominated after taking a 28-20 lead at the end of the first quarter. Denver suffered a dreadful second quarter, being outscored 33-15 by Minneapolis, putting the Timberwolves up 61-35 at halftime. Minnesota’s iron-clad defense never looked like giving up that edge in the second half, as the visitors raced out to a 32-point lead early in the third quarter, leaving Denver’s Ball Arena startled.
When you don’t get the defensive player of the year, you got to step your game up, Towns said after clinching a remarkable win. We all understood the challenge coming in against the defending champions, a really good team, with some of the best players the game has ever seen. We just wanted to come here and find a way to win the game, the 28-year-old power forward added.
We just got beat up in our building and we got embarrassed in front of our fans, Denver coach Michael Malone stated. The good thing is we’re not playing until Friday, so we have a chance to get away and think about what we want to do moving forward, added Malone.
In another playoff game, Jalen Brunson had a thrilling fourth quarter as the New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 121-117 in their Eastern Conference opener. Brunson finished with 43 points, six rebounds, and six assists to give the Knicks an early lead in their best-of-seven conference semifinals.
