Like Jamal Murray (24 points) who is much more aggressive than in the first two games, the Nuggets immediately show their colors. Eight points from the leader but also 8 points from Michael Porter Jr (21 points, 4/5 3-pointers) allow Denver to end the quarter with a 12-4 (28-20). In front of their audience, my Wolves struggled to get into the match. Lacking rhythm, they finished the first period at 42% on shots, including 3/11 from 3-point range.
The trend is quickly confirmed. With a refereeing body that doesn't let anything get through, Minnesota is punished. Jaden McDaniels takes three fouls quickly, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has two. Murray takes the opportunity to drive the point home by launching a 17-5 which puts Denver at +20 (45-25)! Alongside Murray, Nikola Jokic is content to play, with six assists, to put his teammates into orbit.
While the Nuggets flirt with 60% shooting success, Minnesota continues to stay below 40%. Anthony Edwards (19 points, 8/15 on shots) and Karl-Anthony Towns (12 points on 4/7 on shots) are nevertheless skillful but Denver's defense limits them to only 16 shots in the first half, forcing the other Wolves to make them pay. This strategy pays off, and the Nuggets return to the locker room at +15 (56-41).
Nikola Jokic finishes the job
A dunk by Jaden McDaniels on the first possession of the second half made the Target Center rumble, but the Nuggets air-conditioned the room. After Murray and Michael Porter Jr, it is Aaron Gordon (13 points) and Nikola Jokic (24 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists) who shatter Minnesota's defense. A 3/3 from distance from Gordon and an alley oop put Denver at +24 (83-59)!
Three minutes later, Nikola Jokic scored seven of his team's last ten points in the third quarter and the Nuggets moved to +29 in front of stunned fans (93-64). The gap even went above 30 points at the end of the match, and Denver sent a strong message to the Wolves to unlock their score in the series and put pressure on Minnesota on Sunday!
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Welcome to the show, Jamal Murray! 17 points at 6/14 on shots during Game 1. 8 points at 3/18 on shots during Game 2. 18 points at 8/13 on shots during the first half of Game 3! Transparent since the start of the series, Jamal Murray set the tone from the first minutes of the meeting. He scored 8 points in the first quarter, then 10 in the second to allow the Nuggets to take off. He finished the match with 24 points on 11/21 shots. More than the numbers, it was the manner that made the difference for the Canadian. Discomforted in his left calf, Murray apparently benefited from the three days of rest with Game 3 to become himself again. He was more incisive and sharp in his movements and in his decisions and that allowed him to attack the Minnesota defense, rather than suffer. Will he be able to continue during Game 4 on Sunday?
– Loss of skill and defense for the Wolves. The contrast between the Wolves of Game 2 and those of Game 3 was striking. Their super-powered defense of the second match found its cryptonics last night in much stricter referees. Without their usual intensity and aggressiveness, the Wolves took on water against the reigning champions who finished the match at 54% on shots and 48% on 3-points. Their lack of defensive intensity translated into a lack of pace on the other end. The Wolves were unable to get their shots open, finishing 10/33 from 3-point range. Karl-Anthony Towns, decisive in the first two matches, only took 7 shots in 33 minutes of play last night. Anthony Edwards also failed to attack with the same verve as in Denver
– The accuracy of the MVP. For his first game after receiving his third MVP trophy and with his team back to the wall, Nikola Jokic could have arrived in Minnesota wanting to play the hero. He did the opposite by putting himself at the service of the collective. He grabbed rebounds, set screens, and distributed 9 assists in less than three quarters to make Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr, and Aaron Gordon shine. He then scored 13 of his 24 points to put the Wolves' lead under water. With 24 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists, Nikola Jokic was omnipresent while remaining in the background, because it is the Nuggets collective that can take Minnesota from behind.
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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.
