The Denver Nuggets have their work cut out for them in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. The Nuggets lost Game 1 of their Timberwolves matchup 106-99 on Saturday night after a dominant Anthony Edwards performance. Of course, Denver received a hefty contribution from Nikola Jokic. However, the center needed more from his star counterpart Jamal Murray and others for Denver to improve.
Denver entered their Timberwolves series with a fair amount of confidence. After all, the Nuggets are the reigning NBA champions, and they had just come off a commanding 4-1 series win against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Minnesota let them know from the rip that things will not be easy.
The Timberwolves' assault on the Nuggets was led by none other than rising superstar Anthony Edwards. After dealing crushing blows to Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns, Edwards showed why he might be the league's next biggest star on Saturday night. He finished with a game-high 43 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Edwards was not the only one giving Denver trouble though. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 20 points, and Mike Conley Jr. notched a 14-point-10-assist double-double. While Minnesota's offense clicked, their defense is what gave them an upper hand.
The combined efforts of Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, and the rest of the Timberwolves held Denver's star duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray at bay. Jokic finished the night with a “modest” 32 points, nearly amassing a triple-double with nine assists and eight rebounds.
Meanwhile, Murray totaled 17 points. Shockingly, the star guard was held scoreless during the first half. Minnesota's defense is one of the toughest in the NBA, so Murray's down production is understandable, but he must be better if Denver does not want to slide down a hole.
How can Nuggets' Jamal Murray overcome the ferocious Timberwolves defense?
It would be an understatement to say Murray struggled to get things going in Game 1. Yet, he showed signs of life in the first half after failing to score early on. He shot 42 percent from the floor and went two for four on three-pointers. It will take critical thinking for Mike Malone and his staff to help Murray bounce back in Game 2.
This is not the first time the star guard has had problems with Minnesota's defense. The Nuggets played the Timberwolves four times during the 2023-24 regular season and split the series 2-2. Murray reached the 20-point mark in just one of the games: the 116-110 April 10th victory. In the two other matchups, he scored 14 and 18 points.
The defining factor in Murray's 20-point game from the April 10th win was Nikola Jokic's 40-point night. Perhaps the answer to Murray's problems is a better night from Jokic. The bar might sound high, but if Jokic can score 40 points or more in Game 2 and put even more pressure on the Timberwolves' defense than he already is, Murray might be able to have a better scoring night.
Of course, Denver needs its role players to step up and help the Murray-Jokic duo out. While Aaron Gordon is not a go-to scorer, he only amassed nine points on Saturday night. Similarly, fellow starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ended the matchup with a lowly six points. If these key contributors can knock more shots down, it will naturally open things up more for Denver.
In addition to addressing their offensive woes, the Nuggets have to find a way to lock in on defense. They must find a way to slow Anthony Edwards down, or else it will be a long series.
There is still plenty of basketball to be played in this intense Western Conference semifinal. If Denver addresses its culprits of defeat, it has a chance to regain momentum in Game 2.
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