Minnesota is in an 0-1 hole in the best-of-seven playoff series after getting blown out of Ball Arena by the Denver Nuggets, 109-80 Sunday night in the Mile High City.
The Nuggets built an 11-point lead at the half and then blew Minnesota’s doors off by outscoring them 32-14 in the third quarter, taking a 29-point lead into the final 12 minutes.
Nikola Jokic led a balanced Denver attack with 13 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists before fouling out with Denver leading by 27 midway through the fourth quarter. Seven Denver players scored in double-figures and they shot
After review Jokic is assessed a flagrant foul penalty 1 for this play on Ant.#RaisedByWolves pic.twitter.com/OEJ5muDJDX
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) April 17, 2023
Everything was bad for the Wolves, who pulled starters from the game with more than six minutes to play..It was an especially rough night for Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds but only have four points entering the fourth quarter. He also had four turnovers.
Rudy Gobert was a team-worst minus-28, Mike Conley had just eight points and Taurean Prince went scoreless in 21 minutes off the bench.
Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 18 points but he spent the bulk of the third quarter on the bench after picking up his fourth foul.
Minnesota shot 37% overall, 30.6% from 3 and a dismal 56.3% on free throws.
Game 2 is at 9 p.m. CT in Denver, with the game once again televised nationally on TNT and locally in Minnesota on Bally Sports North.
