Battered, bruised Paul Millsap leads Nuggets over Timberwolves

Sporting stitches over his left eyebrow courtesy of a Karl-Anthony Town elbow midway through the third quarter, Paul Millsap’s difficult five-foot floater gave the Nuggets a 101-95 lead over the Timberwolves with 1:32 to play. It was Millsap’s 11th field goal of the night and the most important of the evening.

Denver held on to beat Minnesota 103-101 behind Millsap’s game-high 25 points in just 28 minutes. Millsap went 11-13 from the field and also recorded five steals. Millsap kept Karl-Anthony Towns (22 points and eight rebounds) in check. The Nuggets’ win salvaged a three-game road trip where Denver had already fallen to New Orleans and Milwaukee.

While Millsap’s 25 paced Denver, it was a team-effort on the offensive end of the floor for the Nuggets. Gary Harris chipped in 17 points but struggled from three, only hitting 1 of 8 from distance. His lone three came with 4:56 remaining in the fourth and the Nuggets clinging to a one-point lead and in dire need of a basket. As a team, Denver shot just 6-18 from three in the first half but rebounded to hit 8-17 from three in the third and fourth quarters.

Jamal Murray added 18 points and hit four threes. Nikola Jokic finished with seven points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Malik Beasley (11 points) and Monte Morris (nine points, four assists) paced Denver from the bench.

The Nuggets avenged last season’s game 82 loss in Minnesota that kept them out of the playoffs last year. Denver returns to Pepsi Center to host the Magic Friday.