Nikola Jokic finally broke through his slump, and the Denver Nuggets followed his lead. With a triple‑double from their two‑time MVP and a timely spark from Spencer Jones, Denver staved off elimination with a 125-113 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their playoff series on Tuesday in Denver.
Jokic finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 16 assists—his 23rd career playoff triple‑double, good for third all‑time. Jamal Murray added 24 points, while Jones, who had scored just 11 points across the first four games, erupted for 20. His fourth‑quarter burst included three 3‑pointers and a breakaway dunk that forced Minnesota into a timeout.
The Nuggets trimmed the series deficit to 3-2, halting a three‑game skid and rediscovering the form that earned them the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Game 6 shifts to Minneapolis on Friday.
Timberwolves Shorthanded
Minnesota entered the night without its starting backcourt. Anthony Edwards sat with a hyperextended left knee, while Donte DiVincenzo was lost to a ruptured right Achilles in Game 4 and underwent surgery Sunday. Edwards is out indefinitely, though an MRI showed no structural damage, leaving open the possibility of a return if the Timberwolves advance.
The Wolves also briefly lost Naz Reid, who rolled his right ankle after Tim Hardaway Jr. stepped on his foot late in the third quarter. Reid returned but looked limited.
Julius Randle paced Minnesota with 27 points. Ayo Dosunmu, the breakout star of Game 4, chipped in 18. Rudy Gobert, whose defense had defined the series, was neutralized—his lone basket came with 20 seconds left in the third quarter as the Wolves trailed by 25. Jaden McDaniels, fresh off the Game 4 dust‑up with Jokic, picked up two quick fouls and finished with 13.
Nuggets Control Early, Close Late
Denver jumped out quickly, capitalising on 14 Timberwolves turnovers in the first half, nine of them in the opening quarter. Jokic punctuated the half with a 29‑foot buzzer‑beating 3‑pointer to give the Nuggets a 60-51 lead.
Minnesota cut a 27‑point deficit down to 10 in the fourth quarter, but Jones’ scoring run steadied Denver and sealed the win.
The Nuggets weren’t at full strength either, missing forwards Aaron Gordon (calf) and Peyton Watson (hamstring). Still, they delivered when it mattered most.
The Bigger Picture
Denver must win the next two games to become just the 14th team out of 299 to rally from a 3-1 deficit in NBA playoff history. The Nuggets were the last team to do it, pulling off the feat twice in the 2020 bubble against the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers.
With Jokic back in rhythm and Jones emerging as an unlikely hero, Denver has at least given itself a chance to do it again.
