On May 11, Beijing time, the NBA playoffs division semifinals continued, and the Nuggets hosted the Timberwolves. In the first-round series between the two teams, the Nuggets eliminated the Lakers 4-1 and the Timberwolves eliminated the Suns 4-0. But in the series with the Timberwolves, the Nuggets lost by 7 points in one game and 26 points in the other at their own two home courts. This is also related to the Timberwolves' style of play, the three-tower lineup on the inside, always maintaining the frame protection and suppression of at least two people on the court, Jokic is very tired; Murray was caught at any time, and after the Timberwolves cut the link between the two cores and teammates, the Nuggets did not respond. Statistics show that in the history of the NBA, only 5 teams can turn the tables after falling behind 0-2 at home, and the Nuggets hope is too small.
According to the probability prediction given by the American media "BR", the probability of the Nuggets advancing to the Western Conference finals is only 13.3%, and the Timberwolves are 86.7%! Coach Malone also lost the arrogance of playing the Lakers in the first round, and bluntly said that the team needs to respond more and not let the Timberwolves play the rhythm they want. Edwards averaged 32.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in this year's playoffs, and the playoffs were raised again, and his performance conquered more and more fans, many people compared him with Jordan, but Edwards himself bluntly said that I am not the face of the league now, because there are still Doncic, Tatum, Alexander, but one day it will be realized. The Timberwolves are the only team undefeated in the playoffs, second in the league in offensive efficiency, fourth in defensive efficiency, and first in overall efficiency in the playoffs, with an average net win over opponents by 15.5 points per game, which is still the first in the league!
Nuggets starters: Pope + Murray + Porter + Gordon + Jokic; Timberwolves starters: Conley + Edwards + McDaniels + Towns + Gobert. In the opening game, Pope hit a mid-range, Murray flew to the basket, Edwards and Towns responded with a three-point rain, and Jokic should help Gordon and Porter blossom inside and out! Towns continued to make a three-pointer, Porter made consecutive kills, the two sides were deadlocked for a few minutes, Jokic made a layup in the second half + Murray pulled out the middle range + Holiday made a three-pointer, the Nuggets played a small climax at the end, and at the end of the first quarter, the Nuggets led the Timberwolves 28-20. Back in the second quarter, Holiday and Murray continued to bomb outside, Towns made a three-pointer to stop the bleeding at a critical moment, Porter and Pope opened a 15-point difference, and the Nuggets role players were full of firepower!
Bryan hit a three-pointer in the middle of the period, Edwards and Conley responded with a 7-0 skewer, and then Jokic continued to respond, combining Porter and Reggie to stabilize the situation, Reed and Conley made consecutive free throws at the end of the quarter, and Murray and Towns hit three-pointers. At halftime, the Nuggets led the Timberwolves 56-41, with Towns scoring 12 points and Edwards scoring nine; On the Nuggets side, Murray scored 18 points, Porter 12 points, and Jokic had 7 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. At the start of the second half, Gordon continued to shoot a three-pointer, Madan dunked to vent his anger, and Edwards also opened up the outside touch. However, Gordon and Porter's three three-pointers instantly opened up a 22-point difference! The Timberwolves' defense is completely off-line, perhaps because of the laxity after the big lead, giving the Nuggets too many open opportunities!
In the middle of the game, Edwards blossomed inside and out, but Jokic fed Gordon + a big open three-point shot was very boring, and the difference between the two teams was about 25 points. Jokic continued to make kills at the end of the quarter, and after three quarters, the Nuggets led the Timberwolves 93-68. The fourth quarter seemed to lose suspense, but the Nuggets did not plan to let go of the Timberwolves, Murray's mid-range, Porter's chase to pull out three points, Jokic threw himself and grabbed himself, Murray counterattacked with one arm and dunked, and the Nuggets opened up to 34 points! The Timberwolves surrendered, and the game went into garbage time early, and finally the Timberwolves lost 90-117 to the Nuggets at home, and the Nuggets fell behind the Timberwolves 1-2.
Timberwolves statistics, Edwards 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, Conley 10 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, Towns 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, McDaniels 10 points and 3 rebounds, Gobert 6 points and 4 rebounds, Reed 7 points. Nuggets statistics, Jokic 24 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists, Murray 24 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, Porter 21 points and 4 rebounds, Gordon 13 points and 5 assists, Pope 12 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
Throughout the game, the difference in strength between the two teams was not as great as the score, but the Timberwolves were obviously lax in this game, and the defense was completely different from the previous games. After Gobert returned to the team, the Timberwolves slowed down and fouled a lot of fouls, and when the Nuggets opened up the gap early in the first half, it was too late for the Timberwolves to think about it. Jokic went all out to drive his teammates today, and Murray also regained some touch, and he couldn't give the Nuggets any chance, otherwise they would be too accurate on the outside. In the next game, the Timberwolves' primary goal is to cut off Jokic from his teammates, and Reed should also add some playing time. In addition, today's referee's blowing scale, the Timberwolves are angry, and the Nuggets are probably not satisfied, the league still intends to balance it, and does not want the series to lose suspense early.