Focused Nuggets get even in series
MINNEAPOLIS — The Denver Nuggets were far from done after dropping the first two games of the Western Conference semifinals at home in humbling fashion.
Nikola Jokic scored 16 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, and Aaron Gordon had 27 points on 11-for-12 shooting to propel the Nuggets to a series-tying 115107 victory over the Timberwolves on Sunday night in Game 4 .
“It’s just like a laser-sharp focus,” Gordon said, “and a surgical execution.”
Jamal Murray had 12 of his 19 points in the third quarter for the defending champion Nuggets in a momentum carryover from his buzzer-beating swish from behind half court, and the Wolves only had the deficit below double digits in the second half for a total of 3:19.
Anthony Edwards scored 44 points in another spectacular performance for Minnesota that set the franchise postseason record, shooting 16 for 25.
But despite a 42-31 rebounding edge, the Wolves were beaten at their own game for the second straight time at home.
“Game 2 definitely woke us up,” Murray said. “We realized we can’t hold ourselves back.”
The series goes back to Denver for Game 5 on Tuesday
night.
“This is a series. We won two games, but we didn’t think it was going to be easy,” Edwards said.
Mike Conley had 15 points, Karl-Anthony Towns went just 5 for 18 from the field for 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Rudy Gobert came alive late to score 11 points and grab 14 rebounds. Still, the Wolves were on their heels at home for a second straight game.
The Nuggets scored eight straight points in 20 seconds to close the first half, highlighted by Murray’s improbable heave. Gordon didn’t miss until there was 3:39 to go. Most important, he took the lead in hounding Towns and even took some turns trying to slow Edwards.
“The shot-making, the play-making, the physicality, the defense on two All-Stars, so much is being asked of him right now,” coach Mike Malone said. “What you love about Aaron Gordon since Day 1, when he put on that Nuggets uniform, It’s always been about the Nuggets first. He is truly selfless.”
The three off days between Games 2 and 3 did the Wolves no good, yielding a 27-point defeat after which coach Chris Finch declared them feeling “fat and lazy” after all the fawning for their performance in Denver. They needed to reintroduce their edge right away to keep the crowd roaring, and Edwards led that response.