Anthony Edwards notched a postseason career-high 43 points, Naz Reid had 14 of his 16 points in the 4th quarter, and the Minnesota Timberwolves won against the defending National Basketball Association champs Denver Nuggets 106-99 at Ball Arena in Denver, CO, in Game 1 of the 2nd-round matchup.
Anthony was phenomenal in the 1st half, notching 25 points, and Naz took over in the 4th quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 20 points despite missing time on the court because of foul trouble.
The Minnesota Timberwolves shock the Nuggets and take Game 1 in Denver 🚨
Anthony Edwards scored 43 points and became the second-youngest player in NBA history with consecutive 40-point playoff games.
The only player to achieve this at a younger age? Kobe Bryant.… pic.twitter.com/NYRUWn7xD8
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 5, 2024
Game 2 is Monday again at Ball Arena.
Three days after undergoing a knee procedure, Minnesota coach Chris Finch was on the bench in the 2nd row.
Two-time league MVP Nikola Jokic finished with 32 points, 8 boards, and 9 assists for the Nuggets, but also had 7 turnovers. Jamal Murray notched 17 points, but all of them came in the 2nd half.
Evened at 84, Minnesota went on an 18-7 run to break it open. Reid scored 10 consecutive points for his team at 1 point during the crucial stretch for the victory.
Nuggets manager Michael Malone shared after the match that Edwards’ game improved significantly and there is no weaknesses of how he plays.