The Timberwolves and Nuggets performed the third sport of their NBA Western Convention semifinal collection tonight at Goal Heart. Workers author Chris Hine filed updates from the sport.
Dwell play-by-play
11:15 p.m.: By no means a doubt as Denver wins simply, 117-90
Ever because the Timberwolves trounced the Nuggets in Recreation 2, followers within the Twin Cities had visions of a deep playoff run. Possibly the Wolves received just a little forward of themselves too.
The defending champions responded with a press release of their very own Friday night time in a 117-90 trouncing of the Wolves at Goal Heart, knocking the Wolves off their ft for the primary time all playoffs and humbling crew which will have been driving too excessive.
The Wolves lead the collection 2-1 with Recreation 4 on Sunday at Goal Heart.
Denver was in management for many of the night time and asserted itself on each ends of the ground the best way the Wolves did in Recreation 2.
Jamal Murray, who the house crowd booed many of the night time, had 24 factors after avoiding suspension for throwing a heating pad onto the ground in Recreation 2. Murray solely receiving a $100,000 positive for his actions might play a major position on this collection if Denver comes again to win.
Whereas Murray managed the primary half with 18 factors, Nikola Jokic made certain the Wolves did not have any room for a comeback. He had 24 factors, 14 rebounds and 9 assists.
The Nuggets misplaced their composure in Recreation 2. Now it was the Wolves’ flip to lose a few of theirs, as Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who performed by means of an obvious left shoulder harm, was assessed a technical following a non-call on a tough display screen that had him in ache on the ground throughout a fourth-quarter timeout with 5 minutes, 54 seconds to play. When he received up, he was heated at referee Tony Brothers. Kyle Anderson additionally picked up a technical within the course of.
The outburst was in contrast to Alexander-Walker, who usually maintains his cool with officers.
Anthony Edwards completed with 19 for the Wolves whereas Karl-Anthony Cities had 14 on simply seven shot makes an attempt. The Wolves completed with 16 turnovers.
Their offense relied an excessive amount of on outdoors taking pictures early within the night time, and the pictures weren’t falling – they have been 10-for-33 from deep.
10:37 p.m.: Nuggets in management, lead by 27 after three quarters
The Wolves had no solutions for the Nuggets popping out of halftime and path Denver 93-66 after three quarters.
Aaron Gordon received Denver going early within the quarter by hitting three threes, which is an issue for the Wolves. Their defensive technique on Nikola Jokic entails having Rudy Gobert play off Gordon, who they’re relying on both to overlook open threes or not take them. When he is taking pictures and hitting, that is an indication it is Denver’s night time.
Denver continued to pour it on all through the quarter. Jokic received going scoring-wise and had 13 third-quarter factors and is as much as 20 on the night time. The Wolves continued to look out of sync on the offensive finish at the same time as Anthony Edwards tried to get them going within the third. He was as much as 19 factors, however the Wolves protection regarded helpless towards the Nuggets, who made the Wolves look a step gradual.
Jamal Murray additionally has 20 for Denver.
9:47 p.m.: Denver leads 56-41 at halftime
Jamal Murray is shaking off the frequent boos of the house crowd and powered Denver to a 56-41 lead at halftime.
Murray, fined $100,000 for throwing a heating pad on the ground in Recreation 2, appears to be like extra like himself with 18 first-half factors on 8-for-13 taking pictures.
He continued his sturdy play early within the quarter and led a 17-5 Denver run to open the second and provides the Nuggets a 45-25 lead because the Wolves struggled to attain. In addition they, for the primary time this collection, have been a step gradual on the defensive finish of the ground.
The Nuggets outpaced the Wolves in bench manufacturing 13-8 as Nikoa Jokic was quiet within the scoring division by means of the primary half. He had simply seven factors however added six assists.
Wolves ahead Jaden McDaniels continued his points with foul bother by selecting up No. 3 simply 2 minutes, 11 seconds into the second.
Looking for a spark on offense, Wolves coach Chris Finch went to level guard Jordan McLaughlin for his first important minutes of the collection on the finish of the quarter. However McLaughlin missed two wide-open three pointers.
The Wolves completed the primary half at 40% taking pictures whereas Denver was at 54%, even with Jokic going 3-for-8. Naz Reid is 1-for-5 whereas Mike Conley is 2-for-8 for Minnesota.
Karl-Anthony Cities led the Wolves with 12 factors on 4 threes. Cities did not miss from outdoors. Anthony Edwards has 9 factors on 4-for-8 taking pictures.
9:12 p.m.: Nuggets protection put clamps on Wolves early
A method for Denver to get again on this collection is that if officers started calling extra fouls than they did within the first few video games and getting some key Wolves in foul bother. Jaden McDaniels picked up two fouls lower than six minutes into the sport and went to the bench.
The Wolves offense wasn’t as crisp because it has been for many of the collection and dedicated 4 first-quarter turnovers. Denver led 28-20 after one.
The gang booed Denver guard Jamal Murray, who threw a heating pad onto the ground in Recreation 2, each time he touched the ball. However Murray had a very good quarter and led Denver to its lead. He had eight factors within the first.
Denver shot 11-for-22 within the first quarter whereas the Wolves have been 8-for-19.
The Wolves took 11 threes to eight twos and received to the free-throw line simply as soon as, on a defensive three seconds name.
Denver, which has a shallow bench, performed three of its starters Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the whole quarter. Murray performed practically all 12.
7:37 p.m.: Chris Finch finds a snug spot
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has a plan in place for a way he’ll coach from the bench whereas nursing his surgically repaired proper knee.
He’ll once more be within the second row of the bench space simply behind a few of his workers and mentioned he will likely be close to the gamers once they come again to the bench throughout timeouts.
“I am more than happy with that and I am additionally protected,” Finch mentioned.
Finch mentioned he was feeling nicely headed into Recreation 3 and the crew has been pleased with how communication went within the first two video games.
“I am feeling good. A bit of higher each single day,” Finch mentioned. “First few days have been fairly tough, however once I’m not right here with the crew or at apply, in the course of the video games, I am at residence, leg up. Beginning remedy this week, in order that’s been good. Ache is subsiding slowly. I simply do not wish to miss it. Acquired an excellent workers, belief them implicitly and work out a brand new rhythm and actuality as we go. However I am doing nicely.”
7:11 p.m.: Denver is set
Denver coach Michael Malone his crew will “bounce again” from its 106-80 shellacking to the Timberwolves at residence in Monday’s Recreation 2.
Why?
“Simply historical past and a few years and video games and challenges and struggles,” he informed reporters. “I will be the primary to confess Recreation 2 is the primary time I’ve ever seen that from our group. Ever. That is why it was such a shock to many individuals who’ve come to respect and consider within the Nuggets. As a result of not solely did we get our [butts] kicked on the court docket, we did not face adversity. We type of ran from it and we fell aside. We are the reigning world champ. Let’s not neglect that. That was solely final yr, so let’s get again to play like that, performing like that.
“What provides me perception is that this crew has proven me they’ve executed that, many instances earlier than. You return to the bubble (match in Orlando in the course of the Covid pandemic), down 3-1 twice, two 3-1 deficits in a spot no person wished to be. We might have simply let go of the rope and our guys selected to not. So I would be shocked if we’re sitting right here after the sport and our crew has given the identical type of effort as in Recreation 2.”
The Nuggets have listed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (stomach contusion), Reggie Jackson (left calf contusion) and Jamal Murray (calf contusion) all as questionable. Malone mentioned everyone is banged up within the playoffs and indicated he anticipated his gamers to play on.