Carried by an Anthony Edwards on the momentum of his last match, the Wolves started this meeting with determination, and quickly took the lead (15-8). After letting the storm pass at the start of the match, the Nuggets came back into contact with their opponent (21-20). At the end of the 1st quarter, the two teams leave back to back (28-28).
With Nikola Jokic on the bench, Denver started the second quarter with a 14-5, and made the break (42-33). Jamal Murray preheats, and allows his people to take up to twelve points in advance (53-41). Minnesota still finished the quarter strong, to come back to just six lengths (61-55).
On a long distance shot, Nikola Jokic restores ten points ahead of Denver (67-57). Mike Malone’s men have their hands on the game, as Wolves try to come back, but to no avail. At the start of the 4th quarter, the Nuggets lead by six points (94-88).
With an opportunist Christian Braun, Denver does not want to be scared, and regains a ten-point lead from the start of the fourth quarter (103-93). Minnesota offers hope by returning to five points 4 minutes from the end (109-104). But opposite, Michael Porter Jr is in a great night, and the young winger will secure the victory at the end of the match to lead 3-0 in the series (120-111).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Denver all in control. After a fairly slow start to the game, Mike Malone’s men got their hands on the game and never took it away. Solid collectively and dominating in the racket despite the Towns-Gobert pair, the Nuggets take Game 3 in Minnesota, and almost put an end to all suspense in this series.
– Helpless Minnesota. Apart from Anthony Edwards, no one has really been able to put danger in the defense of the Nuggets. There were a few sparks from Karl-Anthony Towns but no more. The others were not at all level in this match, and even overall in the series. Result ? Wolves are trailing quite logically 3-0 in this series.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Nikola Jokic. Very good game on his part, with his 7th triple-double in the playoffs: 20 points, 12 assists, 11 rebounds.
✅ Michael Porter Jr. High level service from him. He finished top scorer on his team with 25 points at 10/17 shooting including 4/8 from 3-pointers. You can also add 9 rebounds.
✅ The Edwards / Towns duo. They carried Wolves between them by combining 63 points, but it wasn’t enough.
✅ Rudy Gobert. Overall solid match for the Frenchman with a double-double, 18 points and 10 rebounds, but also six faults…
⛔️ Wolves supporting cast. They haven’t been up to par at all, abandoning their leaders.
THE FOLLOWING
Game 4 in Minnesota, Sunday night to Monday (3:30 a.m.).
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D= defensive rebound; T = Total Bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
