7. March 29 – at Denver Nuggets (98-111)
Top Performance(s):
Anthony Edwards – 25 points
Rudy Gobert – 21 points, 12 rebounds
Mike Conley Jr. – 23 points, 8 assists, 5 3-pointers
While at this point it might seem all for not, at the time, this game was the battle for the one-seed and the Timberwolves seized the opportunity. Despite Reid and Edwards shooting a combined 0-of-13 from deep, the Timberwolves were still able to win comfortably against the defending champions.
Minnesota found success on the back of their defense and ball control—they only turned the ball over seven times. Once again, nobody individually stuffed the stat sheet, but the team received contributions up and down the roster. Forward McDaniels provided an efficient 17 points and Kyle Anderson racked up seven dimes.
The absence of Jamal Murray no doubt contributed to the Timberwolves' success, but even without Murray, the Denver Nuggets are a talented and cohesive group. The Timberwolves pulled off a wire-to-wire victory with high stakes.
In this game, the Timberwolves demonstrated, yet again, that they are the team in the West with the most answers to the questions that the Nuggets pose. Should the Timberwolves and Nuggets meet in the playoffs, this game serves to remind the Wolves that if they control the ball, they can win against the defending NBA champions.