Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets heart Nikola Jokic (15) is fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) as he handles the ball throughout the first half in recreation one of many first spherical of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Area. Obligatory Credit score: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Photographs Nikola Jokic had 25 factors, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, Jamal Murray scored 30 factors, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105 on Saturday to take a 1-0 lead of their first-round Western Convention playoff collection.
Murray was good from the road, hitting a career-high 16 free throws, whereas Aaron Gordon completed with 17 factors and Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun pitched in with 12 factors every for Denver.
Sport 2 is Monday night time in Denver.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 22 factors and Rudy Gobert produced 17 factors and 10 rebounds. Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle scored 16 apiece, Ayo Dosunmu scored 14 and Donte DiVincenzo added 12.
The Timberwolves trailed by 12 after three however rallied to begin the fourth. Dosunmu and Edwards hit 3-pointers, Gobert made a driving layup after which a put-back throughout a 12-4 run that reduce the deficit to 97-95.
However Jokic answered with a three-point play and a tip-in to increase the result in seven with 5:45 left.
Following a Minnesota timeout, Edwards missed a 19-footer and Braun made two free throws. Jokic notched his twenty second playoff triple-double off a Minnesota turnover that made it 106-97.
Edwards missed an extended three that will have made it a two-point recreation with 2:25 remaining. Gordon hit a observe dunk and Gobert’s offensive goaltending miscue stored it at 108-101 with 1:39 left.
The Timberwolves led by as many as 12 within the first half however a powerful second quarter by the Nuggets despatched it into intermission tied at 62-1ll.
Denver took benefit of a Timberwolves’ scoring drought of 4:22 to open up a giant third quarter lead. Gordon scored half of the factors in a 14-0 run, capping it with a observe dunk to make it 82-68. McDaniels hit a jumper within the lane to finish the run but in addition picked up a technical foul.
Murray hit the free throw after which a turnaround to make it 85-70. Edwards got here again into the sport with 4 factors and fed Mike Conley for a nook 3-pointer however Jokic’s floater gave the Nuggets a 91-79 lead heading into the fourth.
The Timberwolves outshot the Nuggets from the ground and past the arc, however Denver rode Murray’s free throw prowess to outscore Minnesota, 30-14, from the road. The Nuggets made 30-of-33 free throws (90.9%).
–Subject Degree Media
