Minnesota steals Western Conference semifinals Game 1 from Denver

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ stellar post-season run continues after stunning the Denver Nuggets,106-99, to take a 1-0 lead in the NBA Playoffs’ semifinals stage on May 5, 2024.

Despite facing the Nuggets on their home floor in Denver, the Timberwolves entered the highly-anticipated matchup unfazed and extended its undefeated post-season run to five straight games after sweeping the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Anthony Edwards was in the zone in his semifinal debut after leading the Timberwolves with 43 big points built from an efficient 17/29 shooting from the field.

Aside from his superb offensive performance, Edwards also did the little things and tallied seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal.

Edwards’ terrific Game 1 performance helped Minnesota jump ahead early in the game as they built a double-digit lead that forced Denver’s head coach Michael Malone to call a timeout.

Just when the Timberwolves thought they could sustain their high-octane pace, the Nuggets showed why they are the reigning NBA champions and erased Minnesota’s advantage when they hosted a massive scoring run in the final five minutes of the opening quarter.

From a double-digit deficit, Denver suddenly turned the tables and snatched away the lead heading into the second quarter, 25-23.

It was then a dogfight between two heavyweight teams as Minnesota and Denver traded blows until the fourth and final canto.

When the Timberwolves needed someone to create a spark in the fourth frame, the newly-crowned NBA Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid accepted the challenge and went crazy in the first seven minutes of the final period.

Reid helped Minnesota retake the lead, draining long three-pointers while also exposing Denver’s lack of weak side help defense as he drove in the baseline for several easy deuces.

From that point, Minnesota just held onto their lead and didn’t allow the Nuggets to storm back. In the clutch situation of the game with only three minutes left, the Timberwolves then went to their money man, Edwards, and delivered once again as he cashed in two crucial perimeter jumpers to help them seal the deal.

Reid backstopped Edwards with 16 big points off the bench while Karl Anthony-Towns, despite the foul trouble, was their second-best scorer with 20 markers built from an efficient 8/13 shooting from the field.

On the other hand, the Nuggets received a near triple-double from Nikola Jokic with 32 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds, but wasn’t enough to help them clinch the Game 1 win.