After four victories to start the season, the Nuggets visit the Wolves, whom they eliminated in the first round of the last playoffs (4-1), even if the series had not exactly been a walk in the park.
And the reigning champions are surprised by the intensity of their opponents, who start the match with a 9-0!
A first shock which sets the tone of the match, with a motivated and physical Minnesota team, facing a Denver squad who don’t really want to get hurt.
Anthony Edwards can thus cut through the first defensive curtain multiple times, to go for a layup or dunk without opposition. At halftime, the Wolves are logically +19 (63-44).
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray will try to get back together in the third quarter but Mike Conley and the Wolves remain serious and focused so as not to let go of their advantage.
Enough to push Mike Malone to quickly raise the white flag, for a long “garbage time” which allows all the replacements to stretch their legs. For the Nuggets, it is therefore a first defeat (110-89) this season.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Vengeful Wolves. Mike Malone noted it well in a press conference, the Wolves were overmotivated for this match against the team that eliminated them in the last playoffs. Karl-Anthony Towns fought on defense against Nikola Jokic and, overall, the energy of the two teams was very different, as illustrated by the difference in free throws, with a superb 26/27 for the Wolves, and a measly 7/10 for the Nuggets.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Anthony Edwards. When he is aggressive and puts such pressure on the opponent, he is really difficult to deal with. 24 points at 8/16, plus 7/8 on free throws and multiple penetrations in the second quarter which weighed down the Nuggets and allowed the Wolves to have a quiet evening.
⛔ Interior finishes by Rudy Gobert. The Frenchman (4 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks) played his role as defensive libero and circle guard, but his 0/7 shooting, with only shots near the circle, is problematic. Systematically blocked or intercepted, he failed to find the net.
⛔ The Nuggets’ away address. For only the third time in the last four seasons, the Nuggets finished less than 20% from a distance. A 6/33 (18%) which logically leads to this big defeat, especially in a match in which Denver failed to get to the free throw line. 0/5 for Michael Porter Jr, 1/6 for Nikola Jokic, 1/4 for Jamal Murray or even 1/6 for Julian Strawther…
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
