The Minnesota Timberwolves were not ready to go quietly.
The Timberwolves trailed by 19 points in the first quarter, watched the Nuggets surge back from a halftime deficit to retake control in the third, and still found a way to win 119-114 in Denver on Tuesday—leveling their NBA Western Conference first-round series at one game apiece. Anthony Edwards scored 30, Julius Randle added 24, and the Wolves are very much alive heading back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Thursday.
The Collapse That Almost Cost the Timberwolves the Game
The first quarter was a disaster. Minnesota settled for jumpers, got whistled for 11 fouls to Denver’s four, and watched the Nuggets race out to a 44–25 lead. Jamal Murray was unstoppable—hitting a three-pointer on the opening possession and going 5-for-7 from deep before halftime, including two four-point plays that had Wolves coach Chris Finch fuming on the sideline.
The Timberwolves clawed back. Edwards started attacking the basket instead of pulling up, and Minnesota’s second-chance points—they outscored Denver 20-3 in that category for the game—began fuelling a genuine rally. The Wolves surged to a 64-56 lead before the half. Then Murray sank a 51-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to tie it at 64.
Jokic Takes Over—Then Goes Quiet
Nikola Jokic had a quiet first half but came roaring back in the third quarter, scoring 16 points as Denver rebuilt a 93–90 lead heading into the fourth. The series felt like it was slipping away from Minnesota again.
It did not.
Jokic and Murray—who had combined for 30 first-half points—shot a combined 2-for-12 in the fourth quarter and managed just four points between them as the Wolves took the lead and held it. When a series turns on that kind of collapse from an All-Star duo, something has shifted.
The Final Minutes
Edwards turned the ball over with 31 seconds left, handing Denver a lifeline. Christian Braun got fouled at the other end—and missed one of his two free throws, leaving the Nuggets trailing 115–114 with 19 seconds remaining.
Minnesota called timeout. Randle stepped to the line and sank both free throws. Donte DiVincenzo added a breakaway dunk to close it out.
Final score: 119-114.
What It Means
Denver had won 13 straight games before Monday night, dating back to a 18 March loss. The Nuggets are 8-0 in playoff series history when winning the first two games—and the Timberwolves, aware of exactly what a 0-2 hole would have meant, refused to let it happen.
Game 3 is Friday in Minneapolis. The Wolves will have the crowd. Denver will have Jokic looking to remind everyone what he is capable of in a building that has beaten him before.
This series just got interesting.
