After Donte DiVincenzo left the first quarter of Game 4 with a torn Achilles, and Anthony Edwards left the second-quarter with a hyperextended knee, nobody would have blamed the Minnesota Timberwolves had they lost. Regardless, they showed remarkable fortitude and held on to comfortably win 112-96 against the Denver Nuggets, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the process.
Before I further get into talking about the game, I would like to extend my best wishes to Donte and Ant. It's absolutely gut-wrenching to see injuries like that, and everyone in the NBA world is wishing them a speedy recovery.
Given the circumstances of two vital players suffering significant injuries, I couldn't be prouder of how the Wolves performed.Â
The Timberwolves showcased an incredible level of toughness in Game 4
Ayo Dosunmu was flat-out brilliant, scoring 43 points on 13-for-17 shooting from the field! He attacked the paint relentlessly and hit five 3-points. This game is further proof that Ayo can scale up into a big role when needed. Seeing him scale up to this degree in a high-leverage situation when his team needed him the most was truly incredible, though.Â
After the game, Ayo said, "This game, personally, was for them."Â
Even watching from the couch, you could feel that Ayo and the rest of the team played this game with Donte and Ant players in mind. Â
Beyond that, the Timberwolves' elite defense continued. Nikola Jokic shot just 8-for-22 from the field as Rudy Gobert's dominance continued. Likewise, Jaden McDaniels held Jamal Murray to 10-for-25 shooting.Â
Gobert and McDaniels making everything difficult for the Nuggets' two best players while everyone else limits their all-around threats has been the story of the series, and that continued in Game 4. As did, the Wolves' offensive plan of attacking the rim, they notched 54 points in the paint -- hunting both Jokic and Denver's weak perimeter defenders.Â
Naz Reid deserves some praise for his 17-point, nine-rebound outing. Reid hasn't looked like himself amid a nagging shoulder injury, but he stepped up tonight and gave the Wolves a much-needed spark off the bench.Â
The Wolves' ability to stay composed and stick to the game plan while fighting through adversity is inspirational. It's also the sign of a well-coached and highly connected team. Â
While the Wolves haven't won a championship, they proved they have the heart of a champion with this performance. Currently, it's unclear how severe Edwards' injury is, but it's fair to expect that he'll miss some time. The Wolves' incredible determination and supreme confidence will serve them well against any opponent, though.Â
If the Wolves can close out the series against the Nuggets, they'll likely face off against the San Antonio Spurs in the second-round. Needless to say, taking down a 62-win team led by Victor Wembanyama will be a massive challenge for a shorthanded Wolves squad.
However, the Wolves are proving that they can never be counted out.Â
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