Nuggets-Timberwolves: 5 takeaways from gorgeous Sport 1 upset – NBA.com

Anthony Edwards seems unstoppable in opener, Jamal Murray may very well be a difficulty and Minnesota is excessive on confidence.
Shaun Powell
Anthony Edwards carries the Timberwolves in Sport 1 with a playoff career-high 43 factors.
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There was a crew that confirmed starvation from the opening tip, fought again after getting counterpunched, took management down the stretch and completed the job.
And that crew wasn’t the defending NBA champions.
As a substitute, what the Timberwolves confirmed within the opening sport of the Western Conference semifinals is that this: They’re not afraid of the second, the venue and particularly the opponent.
Anthony Edwards and the Wolves seized management of the sequence with a agency 106-99 victory, placing the Nuggets able that’s new to them since final post-season.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from Sport 1 through which Minnesota snatched homecourt benefit from Denver:
1. Nuggets want a solution for Ant
Contained in the NBA: Dirk Nowitzki thinks Anthony Edwards is 'the whole bundle'
This sequence, from the outset, was primarily about Nikola Jokic and devising a method to gradual the massive man as a result of … nicely, as a result of he’s a two-time Kia MVP and reigning Finals MVP.
However perhaps the script has flipped to Edwards and if the Nuggets are able to limiting him.
He dominated the primary half by scoring 25 of his crew’s 40 factors, after which, after a sluggish third quarter, was a problem for Denver. After getting 43 factors, Edwards now has the second-most 35-point playoff video games in NBA historical past earlier than turning 23, his six trailing Luka Doncic’s seven.
However Denver, one sport into this sequence, is maybe left scrambling for a method for Edwards, very like the Suns within the first spherical. He’s too bodily and robust for his or her smallish defenders (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) and too fast-twitch for his or her taller ones (Michael Porter Jr. and anybody else).
Make no mistake — Edwards is attempting to hike his basketball cred in opposition to one other legendary participant. First it was Kevin Durant; Edwards chopped up the Suns ahead (whom he respects) and instructed him about it.
This time it’s Jokic, and whereas the Nuggets’ middle isn’t guarding Edwards 1-on-1, he’s sharing the court docket with him.
“Going in opposition to the very best participant on this planet is at all times enjoyable,” he stated. “Going in opposition to the very best crew is at all times enjoyable. I misplaced to those guys final yr and so they’re the defending champs … it’s going to be a struggle.”
Nicely, if that’s the case, Edwards scored a first-game TKO.
2. Naz was good
As soon as once more you noticed why Naz Reid gained this yr’s Kia Sixth Man Award. As soon as once more he took over for Karl-Anthony Cities — who noticed for a beneficiant stretch within the fourth quarter with foul hassle — and the Wolves didn’t miss a beat.
Reid scored 14 factors within the quarter, essential for a crew that isn’t terribly deep offensively. To place this in perspective, Reid averaged slightly below 10 factors per sport within the first-round sweep of the Suns.
However he’s greater than succesful, an athletic massive man who can shoot from deep, brings an improved mid-range shot and isn’t bashful about difficult gamers on the rim.
Counter to league orthodoxy, the Timberwolves roll out '3 respectable bigs' in Karl-Anthony Cities, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid.
When Cities missed almost three weeks late within the season, Reid stepped in and never solely performed nicely, however stored the Wolves within the hunt for the highest seed within the West. On this sequence, he’s bringing the very best off-the-bench credentials, giving the Wolves a determined edge.
“He stayed affected person,” Edwards stated. “There’s quite a lot of progress in Naz. He didn’t let nothing hassle him. The sport will come to you in the event you’re affected person.”
3. Nuggets have a Murray fear
Is Jamal Murray absolutely good to go? Not within the availability sense — he suited up for Sport 1 — however by way of his well being and physique?
He didn’t follow after the first-round sequence with the Lakers, the place he strained a calf muscle. And he didn’t rating within the first half Saturday (first time in his playoff profession), elevating concern about his motor and vitality not just for this sport, however for the remainder of this sequence.
Keep in mind — there’s just one off-day between Video games 1 and a couple of. He’ll get a stretch of consolation through the three off-days between 2 and three. But when he struggles once more, the Nuggets may discover themselves in an 0-2 gap by then, with two video games in Minneapolis.
That may be unlucky for them and Murray. The excellent news is he performed a lot better within the second half, the place he was extra lively, scoring 17 factors. Nonetheless, he should burn loads of vitality on the defensive finish as nicely, attempting to maintain up with a fast guard like Conley, who had 14 factors and 10 assists.
“We needed to be as bodily as we might with him, realizing we might throw three guys at him,” stated Wolves assistant coach Micah Nori, who shared the bench duties with injured head coach Chris Finch. “Attempt to put on him down.”
4. Joker didn’t harm Wolves
Contained in the NBA: How Timberwolves protection 'sped up' Nikola Jokic
Jokic was a priority however not an issue on this sport. He impacted solely a handful of possessions and stretches however didn’t dominate the sport, definitely to not the extent of Edwards.
That’s a victory in and of itself for the Wolves, who can throw extra measurement at Jokic than most groups, and one sport into the sequence, it labored to a level.
Minnesota began Cities on Jokic, who promptly acquired Cities into foul hassle. No drawback for the Wolves — there was additionally Rudy Gobert and Reid, giving Jokic a different-looking defender, forcing the two-time MVP to regulate.
Jokic was requested how he may deal with these totally different seems the remainder of this sequence.
“To have a reproduction clone of myself,” he stated.
Even higher for the Wolves, Jokic rang up solely 9 assists, that means he didn’t put as many teammates of their standard place to do injury. That was Minnesota’s technique from the beginning — let Joker get his factors, however not massive factors and never massive assists.
And fddfdfJokic wasn’t very environment friendly when he did shoot, connecting on simply 11-for-29 makes an attempt.
5. Wolves bringing confidence
It’s not clever to make an excessive amount of out of 1 sport. A sequence can shift in a rush; occurs on a regular basis.
This a lot is evident, although — the Wolves are up for the problem. They aren’t intimidated, by Jokic or regardless of the Nuggets did a yr in the past, after they beat the Wolves within the playoffs on the way in which to the championship.
It’s totally different now — Edwards, the Wolves’ dedication to protection, Minnesota’s bench (in contrast the Nuggets’ weakened bench), all that.
This crew performed on the highway, handled Cities’ foul hassle, noticed Conley and Reid step up within the second half, Edwards assume pole place as probably the most harmful participant and a scorching effectivity price within the final two quarters.
“I do know 71% within the second half is unacceptable,” stated Nuggets coach Michael Malone.
Minnesota isn’t seemingly to do this once more. However the Wolves simply let the Nuggets know they’re in for a struggle.
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Shaun Powell has coated the NBA for greater than 25 years. You possibly can e-mail him here, discover his archive here and comply with him on X.
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