Final score in Monday’s Game 2: Minnesota Timberwolves 119, Denver Nuggets 114. The victory for Minnesota evened the opening round series at one apiece, with the next two taking place in the Target Center.
Not only were the Timberwolves able to turn the homecourt advantage to their favor by winning one of two in Denver, but they also gave the Nuggets their first loss in quite some time.
First loss in over a month for the Nuggets
Scoring the first five points of the second quarter, the Nuggets extended their lead to 44-25. Things were looking bleak for the Wolves as they were facing the threat of going down 0-2 in the series.
Instead, the Timberwolves outscored Denver 39-20 for the remainder of the second, which had the teams knotted at 64 heading into halftime. The second half remained close throughout, but Minnesota clamped down on the defensive end in the fourth quarter to secure the win. In the final period, the Nuggets were held to 8-for-21 shooting from the field and just 3-for-10 from 3-point range, scoring only 21 points.
The Nuggets entered the playoffs with 12 victories in a row, and Game 1 marked their 13th straight. Monday’s defeat was the first L they took since March 18 against the Memphis Grizzlies. That was 33 days ago as of Monday.Â
Denver’s last loss at Ball Arena was back on March 6 against the New York Knicks. They also had won 12 consecutive games at home before losing in Game 2.
It was a huge win for Minnesota. Anthony Edwards looked more like himself, as did Julius Randle. Bench players like Naz Reid and Bones Hyland were much more impactful than they were in Game 1.
Rudy Gobert looked even more motivated to make Nikola Jokic's life was difficult on the offensive end after finishing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. His impact on that end this season should have had the4-time DPOY as at least a finalist.
While nearly everyone in the media was picking the Nuggets to advance past Minnesota before the series, most of them were also picking it to be a hard-fought one that would go six or seven games. The three-six Western Conference matchup between two teams meeting in the playoffs for the third time in four years still feels like it will be a longer series.
The Wolves need three more wins to advance. Still, it would have felt like the series was just about over if they fell into a 0-2 hole.
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