By Eurohoops team/ info@Eurohoops.net
Minnesota Timberwolves managed to erase a 21-point deficit and lead with seven minutes to go. Still, Denver Nuggets pushed back and defended their home court with a 122-113 win for a 2-0 advantage in the first-round playoff series.
Nikola Jokic gave another excellent performance, almost recording a triple-double with 27 points, nine rebounds, and assists, shooting 10-19 from the field. The Serbian center leads Nuggets in all-time rebounds and assists in the playoffs.
“We had seven good quarters at home. To be honest, it was expected for them to react and for ass to fall down, but the good thing is that we reacted the right way and won the game“, Jokic said after the match.
On the other side, French center Rudy Gobert finished the match with 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and five personal fouls, including a technical in the final quarter, after which teammates had to calm him down.
Rudy Gobert was FURIOUS after picking up his fifth foul and a tech 😳 pic.twitter.com/l5HEKa1ov3
— Backcourt Alerts (@BackcourtAlerts) April 20, 2023
Denver’s win was also inspired by a 40-point performance from Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr’s 13 of 16 points overall in the last quarter. For the losing side, Anthony Edwards scored 41.
NBA playoffs:
Memphis Grizzlies – LA Lakers 103-93 /1-1 in the series/
Milwaukee Bucks – Miami Heat 138-122 /1-1 in the series/
Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 122-113 (Jokic 27p, 9r, 9as – Gober 19p, 8r) /2-0 in the series/