In a thrilling Game 1 of the second-round playoff series, the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets with a 106-99 victory on Saturday night. This win was marked by a standout performance from Anthony Edwards, who set a franchise postseason record with 43 points. Naz Reid also played a crucial role, scoring 14 of his 16 points in the pivotal fourth quarter.
Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Match Player Stats West – Conf Game 1 Information
| Date | May 5, 2024 |
| Location | Ball Arena, Denver, CO |
| Officials | James Capers, Courtney Kirkland, Dedric Taylor, Justin Van Duyne |
Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Match Stats
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |||
| MIN | 23 | 17 | 33 | 33 | 106 | |||
| DEN | 25 | 19 | 27 | 28 | 99 | |||
| Team | PITP | FB PTS | BIG LD | BPTS | TREB | TOV | TTOV | POT |
| MIN | 52 | 13 | 14 | 23 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 18 |
| DEN | 42 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 26 |
| Lead Changes | 6 | |||||||
| Times Tied | 10 |
Edwards’ Spectacular Performance
Anthony Edwards displayed exceptional decision-making and shot accuracy throughout the game. He scored a playoff career-high and franchise postseason-record 43 points, shooting 17 of 29 from the floor. Edwards was unstoppable in the first half, contributing 25 points and leading his team to a significant advantage.
“When he drew a crowd, he passed. When he was open, he shot – and usually swished,” said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. Edwards’ ability to balance scoring and facilitating his teammates was evident, demonstrating his evolution as a player. This game marked his third career playoff game with 40 or more points.
“The whole team, we trust each other,” Edwards said. “It doesn’t matter down the stretch who takes the shot.”
Mike Conley, who finished with 14 points and 10 assists, praised Edwards’ growth. “I’m proud of the way he’s accepted the kind of growth he needed to have to be where he is,” Conley said. “It’s not easy for a 22-, 23-year-old to make that adjustment so quickly.” Edwards, playfully correcting Conley, added, “Twenty-two.”
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Reid’s Fourth-Quarter Surge
Naz Reid was instrumental in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 of his 16 points during this period. With the Timberwolves tied at 84, they went on an 18-7 run, largely fueled by Reid’s 10 consecutive points. His performance was a direct result of the Nuggets’ defensive focus on Edwards, allowing Reid to capitalize on open opportunities.
“When (Edwards) draws three people, he makes the right play all the time,” Reid said. “I’ve seen him grow from Day 1 to where he is – a superstar in the making, if he’s not now.”
Contributions from Towns and Conley
Karl-Anthony Towns also made a significant impact, scoring 20 points despite dealing with foul trouble. The Timberwolves’ offensive efficiency was on full display as they shot a blistering 71.1% from the floor in the second half.
Coaching Dynamics
Three days after undergoing knee surgery, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch was present on the bench, albeit in a limited capacity. Assistant coach Micah Nori took over the primary coaching duties, handling the instructing, roaming, and switching. Finch, who ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee during the Round 1 clincher against Phoenix, offered guidance from the sidelines.
“All the plays we scored on were my calls and the ones that we didn’t were his,” Nori joked. “(Finch) was great. He was like, ‘We don’t want to make it clunky,’ is the term he used. We did a good job of that.”
Nuggets’ Struggles
Despite a strong performance from two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, who scored 32 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out nine assists, the Nuggets fell short. Jokic also had seven turnovers, which proved costly. Jamal Murray, who had been instrumental in the Nuggets’ Round 1 victory over the Lakers, was held scoreless in the first half and finished with 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting.
“We need to do a better job of making them make tough shots, maybe make the extra pass,” Jokic said post-game.
Denver’s struggles were evident in their inability to contain the Timberwolves’ balanced attack. “Naz Reid got going. Karl-Anthony Towns got going. Mike Conley got going – where Anthony Edwards carried the day in that first half,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “But the second half I just felt not nearly enough discipline and physicality and they were able to get whatever they wanted.”
Game 2 Outlook
With Game 2 scheduled for Monday night in Denver, both teams will look to make adjustments. Denver coach Michael Malone acknowledged the challenge of containing Edwards and the Timberwolves’ balanced attack.
“There’s no weaknesses in his game,” Malone said about Edwards. “And it’s going to be a hell of a challenge trying to slow him down.”
Malone also emphasized the need for better discipline and physicality from his team, particularly in the second half where the Timberwolves were able to score at will.
Timberwolves Match Player Stats and Box Score
| PLAYER | MIN | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3:00 PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | +/- |
| Jaden McDanielsF | 30:43:00 | 4 | 9 | 44.4 | 1 | 4 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -18 |
| Karl-Anthony TownsF | 30:49:00 | 8 | 13 | 61.5 | 2 | 4 | 50 | 2 | 4 | 50 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 6 |
| Rudy GobertC | 35:17:00 | 3 | 6 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 12 |
| Anthony EdwardsG | 42:14:00 | 17 | 29 | 58.6 | 3 | 7 | 42.9 | 6 | 6 | 100 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 10 |
| Mike ConleyG | 31:06:00 | 5 | 8 | 62.5 | 3 | 4 | 75 | 1 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
| Naz Reid | 23:07 | 7 | 11 | 63.6 | 2 | 4 | 50 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | -7 |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 22:40 | 2 | 6 | 33.3 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -16 |
| Kyle Anderson | 12:15 | 1 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -9 |
| Monte Morris | 3:24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Mike Conley | DND – Injury/Illness | |||||||||||||||||||
| Jordan McLaughlin | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||||||||
| Leonard Miller | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||||||||
| Josh Minott | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wendell Moore Jr. | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||||||||
| T.J. Warren | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||||||||
| TOTALS | 43 | 82 | 52.4 | 11 | 27 | 40.7 | 9 | 12 | 75 | 7 | 35 | 42 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 106 | 7 |
Denver Nuggets Match Player Stats and Box Score
| PLAYER | MIN | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3:00 PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | +/- |
| Michael Porter Jr.F | 40:06:00 | 6 | 13 | 46.2 | 4 | 7 | 57.1 | 4 | 6 | 66.7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 20 | -9 |
| Aaron GordonF | 32:33:00 | 4 | 6 | 66.7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | -23 |
| Nikola JokicC | 16:56 | 11 | 25 | 44 | 2 | 9 | 22.2 | 8 | 8 | 100 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 32 | -12 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-PopeG | 37:26:00 | 2 | 4 | 50 | 2 | 4 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | -9 |
| Jamal MurrayG | 34:17:00 | 6 | 14 | 42.9 | 2 | 4 | 50 | 3 | 3 | 100 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 17 | -22 |
| Justin Holiday | 16:29 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 19 |
| Reggie Jackson | 13:43 | 2 | 3 | 66.7 | 1 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 15 |
| Christian Braun | 19:00 | 3 | 5 | 60 | 1 | 1 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 |
| Peyton Watson | 5:30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| DeAndre Jordan | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||||||||
| Zeke Nnaji | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||||||||
| Jalen Pickett | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||||||||
| Julian Strawther | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||||||||
| Hunter Tyson | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||||||||
| T.J. Warren | DNP – Coach’s Decision | |||||||||||||||||||
| TOTALS | 35 | 75 | 46.7 | 13 | 31 | 41.9 | 16 | 20 | 80 | 3 | 31 | 34 | 24 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 18 | 99 | -7 | |
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Conclusion
The Timberwolves’ victory in Game 1 showcased their growth and resilience as a team. With Edwards leading the charge and significant contributions from Reid, Towns, and Conley, Minnesota proved they could compete with the best. As the series progresses, both teams will need to strategize and adapt to the challenges presented by their opponents. The Timberwolves’ ability to maintain their high level of play will be crucial as they aim to advance further in the playoffs.