At 10:30 on May 15, Beijing time, in the 2023-24 NBA playoffs Western Conference semifinals G5, the Nuggets defeated the Timberwolves 112-97, leading the total score 3-2 in the series, holding the match point.
Statistics
Timberwolves: Towns 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, Edwards 18 points, 4 rebounds and 9 assists, Gobert 18 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks, Walker 14 points and 5 assists;
Nuggets: Jokic 40 points, 7 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 0 turnovers, Murray 16 points and 4 assists, Pope 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, Gordon 18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists;
Background
In the Western Conference semifinals of the playoffs, the Nuggets and the Timberwolves met in a narrow way, and the Timberwolves won the series G1 and G2, but the Nuggets immediately won G3 and G4, chasing the series to a 2-2 tie. In Series G5, Timberwolves guard Conley was sidelined with a sore right Achilles tendon. At the same time, NBA officials announced today that Gobert was fined $75,000 for questioning the referee for inappropriate gestures in G4 of the series. Jokic was named the MVP of the regular season this season, and NBA commissioner Xiao Hua presented Jokic with the MVP trophy before the series G5.
Race moments
At the beginning of the game, Pope took the lead in hitting a jump shot, and the Timberwolves immediately led the team to a wave of 7-2 by Towns's inside and outside shots, and the Nuggets quickly gave the opponent a counterattack through jump shots and breakthrough layups to score points one after another, and when Jokic singled out Gobert to score a backward jumper, the two sides tied 8-8. In the following period, the two sides launched a fierce attack on the outside, Walker, McDaniels, Porter, Edwards, and Pope hit three-pointers one after another, and the situation was very stalemate. At the end of the quarter, Jokic hit 2+1, Walker responded with a three-pointer, Reggie Jackson scored 4 points in a row, and Towns hit a hook shot. At the end of the first quarter, the Nuggets were 28-26.
Entering the second quarter, Gobert scored a series of violent dunks, Edwards scored free throws, and the Timberwolves took the lead in hitting 5-0, and Gordon immediately scored a violent dunk to shoot back. Since then, both sides have been cold and missed many times. Morris hit a jumper to break the scoring drought, and the two sides then alternated points through jumpers, rebounds and breakaway layups, and the situation was still very close, when Morris held the ball and broke through the thrower to score, the Timberwolves trailed by 2 points. The Nuggets scored five straight points on an inside and outside shot, and the Timberwolves immediately chased the score with a three-pointer from Walker. At the end of the quarter, Jokic hit a hook shot, Walker scored on a jumper, and Murray responded with a jumper. At halftime, the Nuggets had a six-point advantage.
Yibian fought again, Towns scored consecutive points on inside and outside shots, Edwards scored free throws and Gobert completed a violent dunk, and the Timberwolves took the lead in the opening stage of an 11-3 wave, which turned the situation around and overtook the score. The Nuggets quickly responded to the opponent, Gordon and Murray took turns to attack the opponent's interior to score and Pope hit a three-pointer, and the Nuggets exploded into an 11-2 wave to regain the score advantage. The two sides then alternated points through mid-to-long-range jumpers, counter-attacks and free throws, and when Jokic scored with the ball under the basket, the Nuggets held a 10-point advantage. At the end of the quarter, the Timberwolves instigated a new round of counterattack under the leadership of Towns, but the Nuggets stabilized the game again. At the end of the third quarter, the Nuggets were 88-74.
In the final quarter, Gordon scored a dunk at the beginning, the Timberwolves scored six points in a row, Pope immediately hit consecutive three-pointers and Jokic scored points, and the Nuggets extended the lead to 18 points at this time. The Timberwolves then organized a counterattack and blasted a wave of 10-3 and successfully closed the score. Just as the Timberwolves were closing in on the score, Gordon turned over and scored on a jumper, Jokic hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer and Murray hit a jumper to make it 108-92. In the closing stages, the Timberwolves organized a final comeback, and the Nuggets successfully held on to the win. In the end, the Nuggets defeated the Timberwolves 112-97 to win the battle of Tianwang Mountain, and the overall score was 3-2 in the series, holding the match point.
Both sides start
Timberwolves: Edwards, Towns, Gobert, Walker, McDaniels;
Nuggets: Jokic, Murray, Porter, Pope, Gordon;