Timberwolves come back to defeat Nuggets in Game 2, leveling the series.
DENVER — Anthony Edwards recorded 30 points, Julius Randle contributed 24, and the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame the Denver Nuggets 119-114 on Monday night, leveling their Western Conference playoff series at one game each.
Denver had achieved 13 consecutive victories since their loss on March 18.
Edwards committed a turnover with 31 seconds remaining, and Christian Braun was fouled at the opposite end, but he converted only one of two free throws, leaving Denver behind 115-114 with 19 seconds left.
Following a Minnesota timeout, Randle made two free throws, and Donte DiVincenzo added a breakaway dunk to complete the comeback from a 19-point deficit in the first quarter.
Jamal Murray scored 30 points, while Nikola Jokic contributed 24 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists. However, the Nuggets’ All-Star pair combined for just 2-for-12 shooting in the fourth quarter, managing only four points as the Wolves leveled the best-of-seven series, which will move to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Thursday night.
Denver missed an opportunity to seize control against their Northwest Division opponent. The Nuggets are 8-0 historically when winning the first two games of a playoff series, while the Wolves are 0-8 when losing Games 1 and 2.
Murray hit a 51-foot 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to tie the game at 64. Jokic found his rhythm after a slow start, scoring 16 points in the third quarter as the Nuggets took a 93-90 advantage.
Edwards appeared significantly improved compared to his 22-point performance in Game 1, where his struggles from a knee issue were evident. This time, he drove to the basket more frequently instead of relying on jump shots.
Minnesota, which outscored Denver 20-3 in second-chance points, rallied from an early 19-point deficit and surged to a 64-56 lead, only to see the Nuggets score the final eight points of the first half.
Murray, who missed all eight of his 3-point attempts in the series opener, began Monday night with a 3-pointer and was 5-for-7 from beyond the arc before halftime. In the first quarter, he executed two four-point plays, both resulting from fouls by Ayo Dosunmu.
Prior to the game, Wolves coach Chris Finch expressed frustration for the third consecutive day regarding the free-throw disparity in Game 1, where the Nuggets outscored Minnesota 30-14 from the line. He humorously suggested that his players might need to “start flopping, too.”
Nuggets coach David Adelman noted that some of Murray’s 16 free throws — all of which he made — were due to flagrant and technical fouls committed by Minnesota in a notably physical Game 1.
Despite their coach’s complaints, the Wolves settled for jump shots early in Game 2 and were called for 11 fouls compared to Denver’s four in the first quarter, allowing the Nuggets to build a 44-25 lead.
Led by Edwards, they began attacking the rim, which fueled their comeback.
Both teams attempted 30 free throws this time, with the Wolves converting 19 and the Nuggets making 23.
