MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 35 factors and 16 rebounds and Michael Porter Jr. scored 13 of his 26 factors within the fourth quarter because the Denver Nuggets fended off the undermanned and undersized Minnesota Timberwolves 115-112 on Tuesday night time.
Jamal Murray added 18 factors and 11 assists and Aaron Gordon had 14 factors and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, who blew an 18-point lead in lower than 12 minutes earlier than ending a four-game highway journey sturdy.
“You need to put groups away,” coach Michael Malone stated. “That’s one thing we actually must get higher at.”
Joker and Ant battled all night time with the #2 spot within the West at stake, with the Nuggets popping out on prime in a thriller
Jokic: 35 PTS, 16 REB, 3 3PM,Edwards: 30 PTS, 8 REB, 8 AST, 3 3PM, pic.twitter.com/Sa7cVwZyUJ
— NBA (@NBA) March 20, 2024
The Nuggets (48-21) moved inside share factors of idle Oklahoma Metropolis (47-20) for the Western Convention lead. The Timberwolves (47-22) dropped one recreation again into third place.
Anthony Edwards had 30 factors – his fourth straight 30-point recreation – and eight rebounds and eight assists. The clear look from the wing he created with a crossover dribble for the tie on the buzzer hit the entrance of the rim, leaving him scoreless within the fourth quarter after the Nuggets cranked up the double groups. The shot was related, Jokic famous, to the one Edwards missed for the tie on the finish of Recreation 5 of their first-round playoff sequence final yr.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope acquired knocked down making an attempt to defend Edwards on the ultimate play and was relieved to observe the ball fall quick whereas mendacity flat on his again.
“He ran by me, for positive,” Caldwell-Pope stated. “I’m glad he missed it.”
Edwards adopted a nifty Euro-step layup with a 3-pointer that put the Wolves up 84-82 late within the third quarter and despatched the group in a frenzy. Neither crew had greater than a two-possession lead till Jokic drained a 3-pointer to make it 107-99 with 1:45 to go.
Mike Conley, who had all of his 13 factors within the fourth quarter, swished an off-balance heave from deep with 11.5 seconds left that pulled the Wolves inside two factors. Jaden McDaniels – who tied his profession excessive with 26 factors – made his fourth 3-pointer of the sport to chop the result in one with 4.2 seconds left.
However the Nuggets hit all of the free throws they wanted to down the stretch to seal it.
The Timberwolves performed at house for the primary time in 15 days and with out their prime three massive males, a case of dangerous timing towards the defending champions and Jokic.
With Karl-Anthony Cities (knee) out indefinitely and Rudy Gobert (ribs) sidelined for a 3rd straight recreation, Naz Reid (head) joined them on the inactive checklist after getting damage the night time earlier than in a win at Utah. Jokic had 40 kilos and three inches on Kyle Anderson, who with Luka Garza drew the majority of the work defending the two-time NBA MVP.
“It’s actually exhausting to play towards a crew that they’re lacking a number of guys,” Jokic stated. “After all the opposite guys are taking part in exhausting.”
The Nuggets had a 15-point halftime lead by taking pictures 60% from the ground towards the league’s top-ranked protection, which was a vastly completely different within the paint with out the lengthy arms of Gobert.
“For us to have a exhibiting like we did tonight going towards one of many higher groups on the market, it reveals a number of grit, reveals what we’re manufactured from,” Conley stated.
