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Minnesota Dominates Denver in Western Conference Semifinals
The Minnesota Timberwolves displayed a commanding performance in their 106-80 victory over the Denver Nuggets, taking a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. Led by Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, who both contributed 27 points each, the Timberwolves continued their unbeaten streak in the playoffs, now standing at 6-0.
Despite missing starting center Rudy Gobert, who was attending the birth of his child, the Timberwolves did not falter. Kyle Anderson stepped up to fill the void in the lineup. The Wolves’ defense proved to be too much for the Nuggets to handle, as they disrupted Denver’s offense throughout the game.
Domination from the Start
Minnesota set the tone early in the game, outscoring the Nuggets 43-18 in the first half. Even with Edwards resting on the bench for a portion of the run, the Timberwolves maintained their intensity. This overwhelming performance left Denver frustrated and struggling to find an answer.
Denver’s head coach, Michael Malone, expressed his displeasure with his team’s slow starts in previous games. Despite urging his players to come out strong, only Aaron Gordon responded initially, scoring 13 points in quick succession. However, the Nuggets failed to sustain their early momentum.
Challenges for Denver
Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets’ standout player, managed to put up 16 points and 16 rebounds, but the lack of offensive support from his teammates hindered Denver’s chances. Jamal Murray, dealing with a calf injury, struggled to find his rhythm, scoring only eight points on 3-of-18 shooting.
The frustration boiled over for Denver, with Malone confronting the officials during a timeout and Murray visibly displaying his discontent by throwing a heat pack onto the court. These actions could result in disciplinary measures from the league for the Nuggets’ guard.
As the Timberwolves extended their lead to 61-35 at halftime, the Nuggets faced a daunting task ahead. Trailing by 26 points, Denver’s halftime deficit marked a historic low for the franchise in a home playoff game.
Minnesota continued to press their advantage, maintaining a comfortable lead throughout the second half and securing a decisive victory. With the series shifting to Minneapolis for the next games, the Timberwolves have positioned themselves to advance to the next round with back-to-back wins.
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