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On May 5th, the first game of the NBA Western Conference semifinals broke out in the first game! Minnesota Timberwolves challenged the Denver Nuggets away, Edwards broke out at a critical moment, leading the team to stage a shocking reversal, 106-99 Nick Nuggets, taking the lead! The Nuggets suffered Waterloo at home, Jokic had 29 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and a triple-double stat was powerless.
It's a close contest. The Nuggets dominated the first half and led by four points at halftime. But in the second half, the 21-year-old Edwards suddenly exploded, scoring 23 points in the third and fourth quarters and 39 points in the game, setting a new career playoff scoring high. Under his leadership, the Timberwolves completed the comeback.
Edwards proved himself to be the superstar of the future league. He can do everything on the offensive end, shooting, breaking, passing. In the face of Pope's defense, he turned around and hit a jumper, and then assisted a teammate to hit a three-point shot. In the face of Horford's defense, he made a basket and played 2+1. At the critical moment, he hit both free throws to seal the win for the team.
The win meant a lot for the Timberwolves. They are the youngest team in the West and reached the Western Conference semifinals in their first playoff appearance. Playing against a favorite like the Nuggets is a testament to their quality. With a superstar like Edwards at critical moments, the future is promising.
For the Nuggets, the loss was more than just a home loss. Although Jokic scored a triple-double, he was unable to recover in the final quarter. Murray made just 6 of 17 shots and had a sluggish overall performance. Defensively, they also struggled to contain Edwards. The Nuggets, who are experienced in the Finals, exposed their problems in front of the young Timberwolves.
This is only the first game of the series, and the battle between the two sides is far from over. But the loss has already sounded alarm bells for the Nuggets. They will need to adjust their form as soon as possible, especially to strengthen their defence against Edwards. Otherwise, their championship dreams may be dashed early.
Edwards showed great potential and perseverance in this matchup. At critical moments, he dared to challenge the likes of Jokic and Gordon, and instilled confidence in the team with wonderful goals one after another. He beat Reggie Jackson under the basket, showed no weakness in the face of the latter's defense, glanced at Jackson after the goal, and although he was whistled for a technical foul, he couldn't help but laugh himself. This kind of confidence and flamboyance is the charm of young players.
However, Edwards' excellent performance was also due to the excellent deployment of the Timberwolves coaching staff. They made the most of Edwards' characteristics, creating plenty of opportunities for him to hit singles and catch-and-shoot shots. At the same time, Towns and Gobert also caused a lot of trouble on the inside, distracting the Nuggets' defense. This combination of inside and outside play makes the Nuggets unguardable.
In contrast, the Nuggets' performance was a little more monotonous. Jokic has a triple-double but lacks consistent help on the offensive end. Murray shot just 6-of-17 from the field, and Porter and Pope struggled to create enough space for Jokic. That caused the Nuggets to fall into a scoring drought in the second half, giving the Timberwolves a chance to overtake.
The loss raised serious questions for the Nuggets coaching staff. They need to find a way to defuse the Timberwolves' defense as soon as possible, specifically to limit Edwards' play. At the same time, they will need to adjust their offensive strategy to create more solo opportunities for Jokic and encourage second-leading scorers such as Murray to be actively involved in the offense. Only if both the offensive and defensive ends make adjustments will the Nuggets have the potential to turn the tide.
For the Timberwolves, winning their first win on the road is undoubtedly a shot in the arm. But they also need to stay awake, this is only the first game of the series, and the Nuggets could bounce back at any time. Therefore, they need to continue to play team basketball, maintain fighting spirit and be patient. At the same time, head coach Finch should also be prepared to deal with the Nuggets' adjustments and adjust his tactics at any time.
The game also confirmed once again that the playoffs are never short of surprises. It's entirely possible for the top team to beat the top team, but the key is to be prepared and dare to fight. The Timberwolves, a young and energetic team, are proving their strength with their actions. The Nuggets, on the other hand, need to show the mentality of a Finals team to meet this new challenge.
Whatever the outcome, it's going to be a series to look forward to. The matchup between Edwards and Jokic, the collision of youth and experience, will surely provide fans with a wonderful game. Let's wait and see what kind of surprises and suspense this series brings. For basketball fans, this May is destined to be memorable because of games like this.