Wolves stun Nuggets with a fast start and a dominant finish to win Game 1, 106-99

Anthony Edwards decimated the Denver Nuggets from tipoff, and Naz Reid helped finish them off in the final minutes tonight in the Game 1 victory | Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Edwards’ stamp was all over the game, but it was his supporting cast that fended off numerous Nuggets’ runs

Sixth Man of the Year winner Naz Reid’s 10-point flurry in the fourth quarter helped clinch a game one win for the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Denver Nuggets 106-99. The contest had a slew of twists and turns before the closing moments. In a cold-shooting, yet intense and exhilarating first half by the teams, it was Denver’s run spanning the first and second quarters that helped turnaround a stunning start by Minnesota. A Wolves squad dedicated to shutting down Jamal Murray kept him scoreless in the opening half, yet still trailed despite a blazing 18-4 start.

Anthony Edwards’ brilliance carried his team in both halves, as he managed to outscore his teammates 25 to 15 in the opening period and had 31 of the team’s 73 after three. The teams combined to start 17 for 22 afte rthe half undo the frigid first half, and perfect-shooting from Karl Anthony Towns (5-for-5) and Mike Conley (4-for-4) put the Wolves back up.

MVP frontfunner Nikola Jokic (32 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds) was bolstered by the insertion early of Reggie Jackson, and first half offense of Michael Porter, Jr. (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals). Murray’s offense (17 points and 4 assists) came mostly in the second half and wasn’t enough to help the Nuggets finish a comeback.

Minnesota’s Edwards (43 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) stood tallest in Game 1, and received support from Towns (20 points and 4 rebounds) and Conley (14 points and 10 assists). Reid (16 points and 4 rebounds) figured heavily in crunchtime minutes while Towns sat on the bench with foul trouble.

Edwards was intent from tipoff to put the Nuggets in a hole with an array of offensive moves and taking on whatever defensive assignment given to him. Denver’s attempts rimmed out or fell short, and would only score four points over 7+ minutes. Murray struggled with either taller (Jaden McDaniels) or heftier (Edwards) defenders. The quarter started to resemble many of Rocky Balboa’s fights – heavily one-sided, and then the Nuggets pieced together an 11-0 run to quickly close that gap behind the duo of Jokic and Porter, Jr.. It was Edwards’ scoring (16 points) that nearly matched Denver’s output and yet, the Nuggets had the lead 25-23.

The teams exchanged the lead to start the second quarter, but a Gordon steal and assist to Christian Braun for a dunk put Denver back up three. Edwards resumed his scoring onslaught midway through the stanza with little relief from Minnesota’s other starters. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s corner three put the Nuggets up six. Towns’ three tied things at 40 late in the half. Jokic sandwiched two paint shots around a lob to Gordon to put his team up four heading into the break.

A high execution third period for the combatants hastened the plodding pace. In a mirror of the first quarter, a lone Wolf (Towns) detonated offensively. However, the Nuggets were able to find an answer sooner than halfway into the frame to maintain its tenuous lead. Murray seemed galvanized after a stepback 26 footer. The only other Wolves player to score was Mike Conley to keep them in strking distance. Denver successfully drew Minnesota into the foul bonus, but could not fend off the wave of Wolves buckets. Minnesota went into the fourth up 73-71.

Observations

If there ever was a case to extend a series to nine games, this one would be it.
Kevin Harlan stated at tipoff “The Timberwolves are healthy… from tip to tail.” The best in the business.
The good news: the first Wingstop commercial came 35+ minutes into the broadcast!
Just dawned on me that the top three West seeds are in the Northwest Division.
Is it weird to say that Edwards looks like a less mechanical and robotic Kawhi Leonard at similar stages of career development?
Denver reserves Braun and Peyton Watson may have been seen as too ‘green’ for what looms as a tough series. Both received their first minutes in the second period.
Denver’s Sequence of the Game: Late in the first half, Kentavius Caldwell-Pope fouled and dislodged the ball from Edwards, who handed it to Jackson. Jackson moved the ball upcourt to Jokic, and he re-directed it to a soaring Braun for an alley-oop.
Minnesota’s Sequence of the Game: In the opening minutes of the third period, Edwards’ emphatic block of a Porter, Jr. floater led to Towns lumbering the other way for a transition dunk.
Towns picked up a foul in the first seconds of action. Edwards accepted the challenge of defending Murray – nearly forcing a shot clock violation, while swishing his first three. Edwards’ traditional and-1 put Denver in a 9-0 hole. The stunned hosts’ first points would come on a Gordon dunk, but Edwards answered again. Edwards’ driving layup made it 14-2! Denver steadied itself with Jokic’s facilitation and Porter, Jr.’s shooting. Jackson’s steal and transition lob to Porter, Jr. salvaged a disastrous start and capped an 11-0 run. Jackson’s lay-in and jumper with his infectious defense brought the Nuggets within one. In a tale of two mini-periods, Denver’s closing 21-5 run allowed them to go up two.
A pair of baskets at the start of the second by Towns and Kyle Anderson put the Wolves back up. Porter, Jr’s catch-and-shoot three caused Jamal Crawford to say “he has timely baskets.” Anderson accumulated three fouls in a handful of playing time. Jokic’s fadeaway in the paint put the Nuggets up five. Scoring came to a screeching halt with high-quality defense and stout on-the-ball attention. Edwards’ steal and soaring lay-up drew the Wolves within one. Jokic’s floater put Denver up 44-40 at the half.
Despite a handful of really impressive buckets by Towns (5-for-5) to start the third, the Nuggets answered in myriad ways at the other end to keep a cushion. Denver found a way to neutralize Towns; Jokic attacking him relentlessly to draw two quick fouls. Murray’s acrobatic reverse lay-up put the Nuggets up three. After Towns went to the locker room, Conley took over with veteran shotmaking. Edwards was curiously given a technical for taunting after a baseline drive and lay-up. Minnesota went into the fourth up two.
Murray sought his own offense to start the fourth, which provided temporary relief to Denver. Conley’s shotclock-beating three put Minnesota back up three. Murray converted a difficult four-point play to put the Nuggets back up and drew Towns’ fifth foul. Edwards’ lay-up and stepback jumper moved the Wolves ahead yet again. Murray found Braun in the corner for a three to tie it at 84. Reid had a personal 7-point run, combining a desperation three, tip-dunk, and free throws to put Minnesota up five.
A stunning three by Reid put the Wolves up six. Jokic’s left-handed and-1 halved the deficit. Gobert tipped a miss back in and deterred a lob attempt at the other end. Gobert’s bankshot put the Wolves up nine, and Edwards’ turnaround jumper iced the road win.