Minnesota beat Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets 112-96 to lead 3-1 in the first round, but injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo raise immediate Game 5 stakes.
The Minnesota Timberwolves delivered a commanding 112-96 win over the Denver Nuggets to move one step from closing out the series, taking a 3-1 lead with Game 5 set for Monday in Denver.
The result carried a double edge.. Minnesota’s defense forced Denver into long stretches of discomfort. even while Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray still delivered a combined 54 points.. Jokic posted a double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds. but the Nuggets couldn’t turn their stars’ production into enough stops—or enough momentum—to flip the tone of the night.
A major storyline, though, was injury.. Anthony Edwards exited after taking contact at the rim and did not return.. Donte DiVincenzo also left late in the second quarter with a non-contact injury that resulted in a torn Achilles.. Both players were sent to the locker room. leaving Minnesota to reshape its rotation in the middle of a series it’s now positioned to finish.
That’s where the night’s most important performance came from Ayo Dosunmu.. With Edwards out of the game, Dosunmu erupted off the bench, scoring 43 points on 13-of-17 shooting.. It was an unmistakable “next man up” response—less about filling minutes and more about setting the pace.. In the middle of a high-stakes playoff swing. Minnesota needed someone to turn possessions into pressure. and Dosunmu did exactly that.
Julius Randle also steadied the starting group with 15 points and nine rebounds.. Minnesota’s scoring didn’t rely on a single hero in the way Denver relied on its two-man punch; instead. the Timberwolves kept enough balance to prevent Denver from narrowing in on any one lane of attack.. That mattered because the Nuggets were still capable of counterpunching through Jokic’s passing gravity and Murray’s shot-making.
For Denver, the series now looks like a problem of timing.. The Nuggets can point to the fact that their top performers still produced—Jokic still grabbed 15 rebounds and Murray still added scoring—but playoffs punish teams that can’t pair star output with consistent execution.. Minnesota’s ability to defend stretches and control the pace meant Denver often had to settle for shots that didn’t break the game open.
There’s a wider emotional layer to Minnesota’s situation beyond numbers.. The Timberwolves are chasing a deeper breakthrough after back-to-back Western Conference Finals exits and first-round eliminations in the two years prior.. Their current position—up 3-1—should feel like a chance to finally push through.. The caveat is that playoff runs are decided not only by who plays well, but by who stays healthy.
The Edwards injury is the looming question mark.. With Minnesota aiming for a potential 4-1 finish in Denver. even a short absence could force adjustments to spacing. perimeter pressure. and how the team attacks late-clock situations.. If Edwards’ status becomes a long-term concern. Minnesota would likely lean even harder on its secondary scoring and defensive assignments to maintain the same intensity that delivered Saturday’s separation.
Minnesota’s next opponent in the bracket path could also shape the urgency.. The winner of this Nuggets-Timberwolves series advances to face either the No.. 2 San Antonio Spurs or the No.. 7 Portland Trail Blazers, with San Antonio holding a 2-1 lead.. That means the Timberwolves aren’t just trying to survive Game 5—they’re trying to preserve enough quality to carry momentum into the next round.
Game 5 on Monday now becomes the real test: can Minnesota protect its edge and close out without its primary closer on the floor. while still accounting for DiVincenzo’s abrupt absence?. The playoffs rarely allow teams to “hope” their way through injuries.. Instead. the Timberwolves will need the same kind of immediate. decisive response Dosunmu provided—only this time. they’ll need it on a smaller margin for error.