SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
Jamal Murray scored 40 points, Nikola Jokic had 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 122-113, in Game 2 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series on Wednesday, April 19 (Thursday, April 20, Manila time).
The Nuggets lead the series 2-0 heading to Game 3 in Minneapolis on Friday.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 16 points, Aaron Gordon had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Jeff Green finished with 11 points for top-seeded Denver.
Anthony Edwards had a franchise playoff record 41 points for the No. 8-seeded Timberwolves, hitting 14-of-23 shots – including 6-of-10 from three-point range.
Rudy Gobert scored 19 points, Mike Conley had 14 points, Taurean Prince put up 12 points, Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Kyle Anderson also had 10 points.
Minnesota scored 40 points in the third quarter to lead 89-87 entering the fourth. Denver went on an 8-0 run to open the final quarter, grabbing a 95-89 lead, but Edwards had 7 points in a 10-3 surge to put the Timberwolves in front, 99-98, with 6:55 to go.
Porter answered with a triple, Minnesota missed its next three shots, and three Nuggets free throws made it 104-99 with 5:33 remaining.
Conley hit a running bank shot, but Jokic fed Gordon on an alley-oop and Porter sank a mid-range jumper to make it 108-101.
Edwards hit two free throws before Murray drained another three-pointer and a 12-footer to make it a 10-point game with 3:14 left.
Conley and Edwards made three-pointers to get Minnesota within 115-109 before Murray answered with one from deep.
Edwards hit a 20-footer, but another Jokic-Gordon alley-oop sealed it.
The Nuggets led by as many as 21 in the second quarter before Minnesota chipped away and got within 64-49 at halftime.
Murray’s layup with 9:41 left in the third gave Denver a 70-55 lead before the Timberwolves went on a 14-0 run.
Towns hit a triple, Gobert had two dunks and Edwards scored five points during the surge that made it a one-point game.
The Nuggets hit two baskets to go up by five, but Minnesota’s 10-5 run tied it at 79.
After Jokic split a pair of free throws, Anderson’s dunk gave the Timberwolves their first lead since the first quarter. – Rappler.com
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.