The Minnesota Timberwolves kicked off their playoff campaign with a strong showing, upsetting the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, in Game 1. The Wolves rallied in the second half, riding a stellar performance from Anthony Edwards, who dropped a game-high 43 points, hitting 17 of his 29 field-goal attempts.
After the game, Wolves guard Mike Conley praised Edwards’ rapid growth, saying, “I’m proud of the way he’s accepted the kind of growth he needed to have to be where he is. It’s not easy for a 22-, 23-year-old to make that adjustment so quickly.”
Edwards, just 22 years old, is having an outstanding postseason, averaging 33.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. His remarkable performance in Game 1 helped the Timberwolves maintain their perfect playoff record, now standing at 5-0. The Nuggets, who never trailed in a series during their 2023 championship run, will need to find a way to bounce back in Game 2.
Here’s the Nuggets vs. Timberwolves schedule, along with the scores so far:
Game 1: Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 99 — Minnesota leads the series 1-0
Game 2: Monday, May 6, Timberwolves at Nuggets, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3: Friday, May 10, Nuggets at Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 4: Sunday, May 12, Nuggets at Timberwolves, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5 Tuesday, May 14, Timberwolves at Nuggets
Game 6 Thursday, May 16, Nuggets at Timberwolves
Game 7 Sunday, May 19, Timberwolves at Nuggets
The Nuggets will host Game 2 at the Ball Arena in Denver, with tip-off at 10 p.m. ET. You can catch the game on TNT or stream it on Watch TNT or Max.
One of the key players to watch in this series is Denver’s Michael Porter Jr., who’s been a consistent scoring threat in the playoffs. He’s made half of his 48 three-point attempts, providing crucial support to star players Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Murray’s calf injury has hampered his effectiveness, making Porter’s role even more critical. Porter scored 20 points in Game 1, and his offensive contributions will be vital if the Nuggets hope to level the series.
After the Game 1 loss, Denver’s head coach Michael Malone highlighted the team’s second-half defense as a concern. He noted that allowing Edwards to score 43 points was a significant issue, especially since the team had played competitively in the first half despite Murray’s limited mobility. If Rudy Gobert, currently questionable for “personal reasons,” misses Game 2, his absence could further weaken the Timberwolves’ defense.
Despite Denver’s loss in Game 1, the Nuggets are favored to win Game 2, with odds of -285. However, if Edwards continues his hot streak, it could be another challenging night for the Nuggets. We’ll see how they respond on Monday night.
