The Denver Nuggets are showing why they are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
The Nuggets lead their first-round series over the Minnesota Timberwolves 2-0 following their 122-113 victory on Wednesday night.
The Nuggets were up by as many as 21 points, but the Timberwolves outscored Denver 40-23 in the third quarter thanks to 81% shooting from the floor in the frame. Suddenly, Minnesota had a two-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
But Denver came firing to start the final 12 minutes. A four-point play on his first shot attempt started an 8-0 run, all eight of which were scored by Michael Porter Jr. Both teams traded buckets for the next few minutes, and Minnesota was even able to regain a one-point lead. . , but that’s as far as they’d go.
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Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets reacts during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round One of Game Two of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2023 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
As Minnesota went up 99-98, the Nuggets responded with a 15-4 run to climb double digits yet again. Every time Minnesota tried to spark a comeback, it was quickly stopped by the Nuggets.
Oh, and Minnesota punters, look the other way: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope knocked down two free throws to put Denver up nine with 11.0 seconds to go, and the Timberwolves deflected the innings pass: the Nuggets covered 8.5.
Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets high fives with Nikola Jokic #15 during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round One of Game Two of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2023, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
GRIZZLIES’ JA MORANT OUT OF GAME 2 VS LAKERS WITH HAND INJURY
Denver shot 59% from the floor in the fourth compared to Minnesota’s 41%.
Jamal Murray led the way with 40 pieces for the Nuggets (Anthony Edwards had 41 in a missed effort), while Nikola Jokic added 27 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Porter scored 13 of his 16 points in the quarter.
Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (15) raises a Kobe Bryant-style fist after Bruce Brown (11) threw an alley oop to Jeff Green (32) during the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena in Denver on Wednesday April 19. , 2023. (AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
It was a disappointing night for Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored just 10 points on 3-for-12 shooting: In the regular season, he’s shot 20.8 a night on 49.5% from the floor.
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The series now moves to Minnesota for the next two games.