The Wolves had never been victims of an ugly 4-0 in the playoffs, and the Nuggets had promised to leave Minneapolis with the qualification. Well, it won’t be for this first-round series yet! After an unlikely extension, Minnesota managed to save its skin, this time, with a success that struggled to take shape, upset in particular by a return of -12 from the Nuggets to snatch the extension (114-108 ).
Behind 34 points from Anthony Edwards who returned the winning shot from 3-pointers in overtime, Minnesota therefore saves the honor and extends the series against the number 1 of the season in the West. Karl-Anthony Towns (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Rudy Gobert (14 points, 15 rebounds) finally offered a little more solid resistance to Denver, even if Nikola Jokic still panicked the counters with 43 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists.
A little less successful (8/21 in the end), Jamal Murray nevertheless thought that the “sweep” was within reach at the end of the match when his team spun an incredible 12-0 to equalize and snatch the extension in extremis. But it was ultimately just another twist in Wolves’ chaotic season…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Nuggets are coming back from the devil. At 96-84 less than 3 minutes from the end of the match, Wolves had the game in hand, with their biggest gap of the match, but even of the series at +12! But, as against Memphis last year in the playoffs, Wolves once again let their advantage slip away in the final minutes. It must be said that opposite, Nikola Jokic took care of everything, being involved in the 12 points of his team, at the conclusion or at the last pass. Thanks to several bombs from MPJ 3-pointers, and a last solid defense from KCP that spoiled Edwards’ last attempt, the Nuggets kept Minny in suspense!
– A crazy extension until the end. But Mike Malone had it bad post-game. Indeed, after conceding only 16 points in the 4th quarter in defense, the Nuggets completely cracked with 18 points conceded in overtime. Receiving a knock on the pitcher with KAT’s quick exit for 6 fouls, Wolves held their ground, and their composure under the direct pressure of elimination, with two ultra-valuable straight 3-pointers from Alexander- Walker to take +5. Denver will still come back to -1 but it is Anthony Edwards who will have the last word with a 3-point clutch, the biggest of his young career!
– Wolves have finally responded inside. Manhandled by their opponents in the paint since the start of the series, the Wolves have finally managed to reverse the trend in the column of “points scored in the paint”… by being tied (at 54 all). For the duo Gobert (14 points, 15 rebounds) – Towns (17 points, 11 rebounds), it’s already a start! All was not perfect, far from it, but the contribution of Kyle Anderson (also out of the game after an eye injury) and Anthony Edwards on the percussion and penetration to the circle helped the Wolves to bend the Nuggets.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Nikola Jokic. If he missed a wide open 3-pointer at the end of overtime, Nikola Jokic has little to be ashamed of in this game 4, which he finished with 43 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists. Indispensable in the return at the end of the game, he is the first pivot in history to score a game with more than 40 points, 10 rebounds and 5 3-point shots.
✅ Anthony Edwards. Like LeBron James, Edwards became the only player tonight with five playoff games with 30 points or more before he turned 22! Author of the 3-point win in overtime, the young Wolf did not shirk his responsibilities, far from it!
✅ Nickeil Alexander Walker. On a defensive mission on Jamal Murray all game, NAW did a great job of putting out his fellow Canadian, notably causing a key offensive foul late in the game. But he was also decisive on offense with two 3-pointers in the same corner in overtime.
✅⛔ Jamal Murray. Radiating since the start of the playoffs, Jamal Murray had his first hitch last night, with “only” 19 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists. At 8/21 on shots including 2/7 from afar, Murray had not set his sights for once…
✅ ⛔ Karl Anthony Towns. The Wolves interior came out crestfallen for 6 fouls at the start of extra time. On another rookie mistake, pushing Jokic into a low post stance. With 17 points and 11 rebounds, however, he had a clean game.
THE FOLLOWING
Game 5 back in Denver overnight Tuesday through Wednesday
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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.
