So much for a repeat of Sunday’s Timberwolves blowout of the Nuggets. It was the other way around Tuesday night as Denver blew Minnesota’s doors off in the first quarter, outscoring them 49-19.
The game was tied 13-13 before the Nuggets erupted and went on a 32-2 run.
The 49 points allowed is the most allowed by the Timberwolves in a regular season quarter in franchise history. The gave up 50 points in the third quarter of Game 4 in their 2018 playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
That 2018 playoff game saw the Rockets outscore Minnesota 50-20 in the third quarter. At the time, Minnesota was the first team to be outscored by 30 points in a playoff quarter since May 6, 1986, when the Celtics outscored the Hawks 36-6 in a quarter, according to ESPN.
It’s unclear how many teams have been outscored by 30 points in a quarter in NBA history.
Only the Hornets, Mavericks, Magic, and Warriors can claim better quarters than Denver this season. The Hornets and Mavericks both put up 51 in games against the Bucks and Lakers, respectively. Orlando and Golden State notched 50 in a quarter against Atlanta and Sacramento, respectively.
Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. led the Nuggets in scoring, tying the Wolves by himself, with 19 first-quarter points.
