The Denver Nuggets hoped to turn the tide against their division rivals, the Minnesota Timberwolves. For too long, the Wolves have had the Nuggets’ number. But without Anthony Edwards, who missed the game with a right hamstring strain, hope crept back into the equation.
Despite a bumpy first half, the Nuggets secured an important road win thanks to a third-quarter takeover from Jamal Murray. The final score: 127-114
Let’s run through some instant takeaways.
Nikola Jokić Gets Aggressive Early
In the season opener, Jokić looked weary of lumbering into the paint. He launched a barrage of 3-pointers that largely missed their target. In the home opener, he didn’t take a shot until nearly halftime, though this time it was more about the offense humming without his scoring. The ball was popping, and he racked up assists.
In Minnesota, Jokić finally went on the attack, going to work often and early in Rudy Gobert’s paint. By halftime, the 3x MVP had 17 points on 6-for-7 shooting, with 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Gobert and his backup, Naz Reid, had picked up five combined personal fouls. Jokić also played the entire first quarter for the first time this season.
The big fella finished with 25-19-10 on 9-for-10 shooting.
Jamal Murray Takes Over
Murray emerged from the locker room as a man on fire. He scored 23 points in the third quarter with a flurry of tough jumpers. He grew tired of the nonsense and willed the Nuggets back in front with a thermonuclear stint. The Wolves have been well-equipped over the years to bother Murray with a small army of long-armed or strong defenders. This time, they couldn’t stop him. He barely saw them.
Murray didn’t just take and make some jumpers. He looks more willing than ever to let it fly from deep. Lose him in the action, or go under on the screen, and he’ll shoot without hesitation right now. It’s a welcome addition to his game. Murray and his 43 points led the Nuggets to victory. Plus, he got some significant help from a friend off the bench.
Tim Hardaway Jr. Gets Involved
Hardaway Jr’s received the least coverage of Denver’s new acquisitions. He demanded our attention in Minnesota, scoring 20 points on 11 shots. Like Murray, he grew lava hot in the third. The Nuggets, with Murray and Hardaway leading the way, dropped 45 points in the quarter.
As the new guy, THJ looked unfazed by the Wolves curse, and unafraid to shoot the rock — he rarely is. That’s the kind of player Denver needed off the bench. One more guy who is not afraid to take his turn with the ball in his hands. That approach can spoil quickly, and he’s known as a streaky shooter. But on a minimum contract, it’s well worth the flier. Denver needed his firepower in Monday’s road win.
Wolves Rattle Nuggets in First Half, Nuggets Respond
The Timberwolves hold a significant athletic advantage in this matchup, even without the vigorous Anthony Edwards. It popped again as Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle took the Nuggets’ lunch money in the first half. That disparity is hard to overcome, barring any overhauls of either roster. It’s just part of the equation. The Nuggets should make up for some of it as a well-oiled machine built around the most brilliant player in the world. But they rarely look like one when they see Wolves jerseys.
Something comes over the Nuggets when these teams clash. They grow sloppy, tentative, and disjointed. In this case, the Nuggets couldn’t hit anything around the rim in the first half. They fumbled the ball on fast breaks, overthrew their lobs, and bricked layups before halftime.
Thankfully, Murray and Hardaway Jr. took over in the third quarter, and the squad composed themselves down the stretch—Shoutout Peyton Watson, who closed alongside THJ and the starters.
