Nuggets never find their rhythm in loss to Timberwolves

DENVER- The Denver Nuggets came into their matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves looking to go into the All-Star break on a winning streak. Instead, the Nuggets offense struggled to score and the defense could not do enough to keep them in the game as the Nuggets fall 112-99 to the Timberwolves.

Things started shakily within the first couple of minutes due to what looked to be a bit of nerves for Mason Plumlee. His first basket as a member of the Nuggets was actually an accidental tip-in for the Timberwolves but he redeemed himself with two ferocious dunks directly after. Andrew Wiggins was unable to miss against Denver, as usual, and Denver went into the second quarter down 32-31 after Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns combine for 26 of the Timberwolves 32 total first quarter points.

“Wiggins and Towns are a handful,” Malone said. “The point of attack, the lack of containment, was the most disappointing thing.”

“You have to embrace that challenge and guard Andrew Wiggins,” Malone said after the loss. “Don’t rely on the help; know it is there, but don’t rely on it. tonight we just got beaten at the point of attack way too easily and behind that we didn’t give much help. It was kind of disappointing”

Once the second quarter began is when both teams began playing sloppy. Turnovers were rampant as were slow defensive rotations. The Nuggets eventually got their feet back under them and started to play more consistent and turned a five-point deficit into a lead at one point but ended up going into halftime down 62-60. Jameer Nelson and Gary Harris did most of the offensive damage while Juancho Hernangomez was doing a little bit of everything with his insanely high basketball IQ while Jameer Nelson finished the first half with 12 points and six assists to lead the Nuggets.

The third quarter started out with Will Barton trying to steal the show to no avail. He did his best to carry the Nuggets offense but nothing was clicking in the second half and Barton ended up with 18 points, nine rebounds, and two assists. Jokic continued his rough shooting night and the Nuggets struggled to score regardless of the situation. Murray hit two three-pointers and the Nuggets defense did enough to keep the game close but Denver went into the fourth quarter down 85-79. Wiggins continued to do whatever he wanted on the offensive end and Denver could not do anything to slow him down. Wiggins finished with an outlandish 40 points on 26 shots with four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

The start of the fourth quarter was much of the same to start. Bad defense and completely unable to make shots at the rim. The Timberwolves lead extended to 12 at one point but back to back three-pointers from Harris, who finished with 22 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals, brought the Nuggets back into the game.

The game stayed close all night but, after Jokic was obliterated by a ferocious Wiggins poster-dunk, the Nuggets never really seemed like they were going to be able to pull out the victory. The Nuggets ended up losing to a Timberwolves team who was playing their third game in four nights as Jokic had one of his worst shooting performances of the season even though he still put up 15 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and four blocks and was somehow a plus/minus rating of +1 in a 13 point loss.

“He just needs to calm down and he cannot let his emotions get the best of him,” Malone explained during his postgame interview. “He is a young kid and, obviously, you could tell he was frustrated tonight and was probably frustrated with the referees and his shot not falling. It wasn’t one of his nights and that happens.”

Quote of the night

“I thought we were very stagnant tonight. Not because we made 24 threes against Golden State but we were moving and the ball was flying,” Malone explained. “We were hard to guard. Tonight we made ourselves very easy to guard. We did not cut; we stood and watched. Therefore we kind of bogged down offensively. I think at times Nikola was frustrated and he was trying to impose his will on the game and against Towns and sometimes when you try to do too much you get yourself in trouble. Nikola is our guy. We love him and we believe in him and I have no doubt that coming back out of the break that he will be ready to play.”

Footnotes

The Nuggets suited up just ten players against the Timberwolves. Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur, and Emmanuel Mudiay were all out with various injuries.

Plumlee, in his first active game with the Denver Nuggets, started in place of the injured Kenneth Faried. He finished with 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists.

“I felt bad. It was his first game and I played him 34 minutes and he was gassed. It was great to have him out there,” Malone said. “You see at times the athleticism that he brings, the lob threat, and above the rim threat that he has but he was definitely tired. He is looking to make plays for his teammate’s weather that was with screens or making plays with the pass but he will get adjusted. First game for him with a bunch of new teammates and overall I thought he did a good job for us.”

What’s Next

The Denver Nuggets head into the All-Star break and do not play again until February 23rd in Sacramento against the Kings before heading back to Denver the next night to take on the Brooklyn Nets.