The Minnesota Timberwolves delivered a statement victory on Wednesday night, handing the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets their first loss of the season with a wire-to-wire 110-89 rout at the Target Center. The Wolves, who were swept by the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs last spring, showed no fear or hesitation as they outplayed their rivals in every aspect of the game.
Edwards leads balanced attack with 24 points
The Wolves were led by second-year star Anthony Edwards, who scored 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including four 3-pointers. Edwards also added six rebounds, four assists, and two steals, showcasing his all-around talent and athleticism. He capped off a brilliant first half with a thunderous dunk at the buzzer, giving the Wolves a 63-44 lead and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Edwards was not alone in his stellar performance, as four other Wolves scored in double figures. Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and eight rebounds, playing tough defense on Nikola Jokic and drawing fouls on the Nuggets’ big men. Mike Conley, who joined the Wolves in a blockbuster trade this summer, had 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, providing veteran leadership and playmaking. Naz Reid came off the bench to score 16 points and grab five rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels chipped in 10 points and three blocks.
Wolves shut down Nuggets’ offense with aggressive defense
The Wolves’ defense was equally impressive as their offense, as they held the Nuggets to a season-low 89 points on 38.6% shooting from the field and 18.2% from beyond the arc. The Nuggets, who averaged 117.8 points per game in their first four wins, looked out of sync and frustrated by the Wolves’ pressure and physicality.
The Wolves limited Jokic, the two-time NBA MVP, to 25 points and 10 rebounds on 11-of-23 shooting. Jokic had only three assists, well below his career average of 7.1 per game. Jamal Murray, who torched the Wolves for 36 points in Game 5 of the playoff series last season, was held to 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting. Michael Porter Jr., who signed a five-year, $172 million contract extension this offseason, was a non-factor with six points on 2-of-11 shooting.
Wolves snap losing streak against Nuggets with emphatic win
The Wolves snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Nuggets, dating back to January 2022. The Wolves also improved to 2-2 on the season, bouncing back from a disappointing loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. The Wolves showed their maturity and resilience by not letting up in the second half, despite leading by as many as 28 points.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, suffered their first loss of the season and fell to 4-1. The Nuggets will look to regroup and bounce back from their worst performance of the year. The Nuggets will face another tough test on Friday, when they host the Los Angeles Lakers at the Ball Arena.
The Wolves and the Nuggets will meet again on December 15 in Denver, in what promises to be another exciting matchup between two of the best teams in the Western Conference.
