Michael Porter Jr.’s 3-pointer with 1:24 left in the first quarter capped a 24-0 run for the Denver Nuggets in a 49-point first quarter and a 146-112 whipping of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch pulled starters from the game with 8:20 left in the third quarter, hoping they’ll reset in time for Wednesday night’s game in Utah.
“Down 30 the whole game. Didn’t play with a lot of physicality. Just wasn’t there early,” Finch explained afterward. “Bunch of bad turnovers to start the game and then transition was a disaster. Shot-making, they got hot. It as over. They kicked our butt in every way you can.”
Nikola Jokic only needed a little less than two quarters to rack up his fourth consecutive triple-double and he finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists. Porter led Denver with 30 points and Aaron Gordon added 24.
The loss drops Minnesota (29-28) to ninth in the Western Conference. They’re one game ahead of 10th place Utah and just three games behind third place Sacramento.
D’Angelo Russell was ejected in the third quarter after a disappointing night where he scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Anthony Edwards scored 19 points (all in the first half) and was visibly frustrated when he went to the locker room just before the end of the first half.
Luka Garza registered 19 points off the bench for Minnesota.
Minnesota and Utah get started at 8 p.m. CT Wednesday.
