Follow usNikola Jokic showcased his prowess with a remarkable display, tallying 35 points and 16 rebounds to propel the Denver Nuggets to a narrow 115-112 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night in Minneapolis.
Joining Jokic in the scoring effort was Michael Porter Jr., who contributed 26 points on an efficient 9-of-15 shooting for the Nuggets (48-21). The team bounced back admirably from a heart-wrenching buzzer-beater loss to the Dallas Mavericks just two days prior. Notably, Jamal Murray (18 points, 11 assists) and Aaron Gordon (14 points, 11 rebounds) each secured double-doubles for Denver.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards led the charge for the Timberwolves (47-22) with an impressive performance, amassing 30 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Jaden McDaniels also made significant contributions, scoring 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting, while Mike Conley added 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
The outcome of the game leaves Denver in a virtual tie with the Oklahoma City Thunder (47-20) for the top spot in the Western Conference, with Minnesota trailing by just one game.
The contest remained tightly contested until the final moments, with Minnesota closing the gap to just two points with 12 seconds remaining after a crucial 3-pointer by Conley. However, Porter’s clutch free throws extended Denver’s lead to 113-109 with 7.6 seconds left. Despite McDaniels sinking another 3-pointer to make it 113-112, Murray sealed the win for the Nuggets with two successful free throws. Edwards’ last-second 3-point attempt failed to force overtime.
Throughout the game, both teams engaged in a seesaw battle, with Denver holding an 87-84 advantage entering the fourth quarter. Minnesota staged a strong comeback in the third quarter, outscoring Denver 29-17 to set the stage for a thrilling finish. Edwards’ jump shot gave the Timberwolves an 84-82 lead late in the third quarter, but timely baskets from Jokic and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope helped the Nuggets regain control.
Denver established a double-digit lead early in the first quarter, capitalizing on Minnesota’s slow start on the second night of a back-to-back set. By the end of the opening period, the Nuggets held a 35-28 advantage, which they extended to 15 points by halftime, leading 70-55.
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Edwards scores 29 points for Wolves to edge out Nuggets 119-116 
