Up 19 points in the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Denver Nuggets let Game 2 slip through their fingers. Since 2023, the Nuggets have a Game 1 record of 8-1 n the playoffs, whereas their Game 2 record now sits at 1-5 according to Denver Post writer, Bennett Durando.
Game 2 was nothing short of entertaining, including a scuffle between Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards with 30.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
After the scuffle between the two superstars, Nuggets still down by two, Jokic had the ball with 25 seconds left ready to take a wide open floater over Edwards. However, he made an unexpected decision that solidified the Wolves win.
Jokic passed the ball to Christian Braun who was fouled and missed both free throws.
Ultimately, it was Edwards who got the last laugh after the Timberwolves were able to hold the Nuggets to 113 points as time expired. Neither team has commented on the presumed altercation.
The tension surrounding the team leaders, paints a perfect picture for what is expected to come in the remainder of the series.
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Nikola Jokic And Nuggets Head Coach David Adelman Comment On Center’s Decision To Pass
After a brutal come-from-behind win by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets head coach, David Adelman, and center, Nikola Jokic, were questioned by the media about Jokic’s fourth quarter decision to pass the ball.
Jokic explained his decision in a postgame press conference stating, “I thought I had a pass… I should definitely take that floater.”
Jokic followed up his response with, “We had two free throws, you know? It was a bad ending.”
In Game 2, Jokic posted 24 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, and one block. While his outing was still dominant, it was not enough.
Head coach David Adelman shared that while the outcome may not be what he or Jokic wanted, he still trusts his center’s decisions:
“You always want him to shoot that shot,” Adelman said via a tweet from Bennett Durando. “But he sees what he sees out there. He’s playing. And if he sees his teammate open, he’s gonna make that play… I trust the best player in the world to make the decisions he makes.”
If Jokic were to have taken the shot and made it, the Nuggets would have been tied with the Timberwolves 115-115, with home court advantage. But the momentum from the Wolves was enough to steal Game 2 and even up the series 1-1.
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NBA Fan Reactions To Timberwolves-Nuggets Game 2
Denver Nuggets fans were quick to share their reactions on social media following the loss against the Timberwolves. Many were specifically upset about Jokic giving up a wide-open floater in the fourth quarter.
Aside from commentary about the late game pass, fans were also upset about the game time decisions from head coach David Adelman.
Minnesota’s leading scorer, Anthony Edwards, tallied 30 points, ten rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal in 40 minutes of play.
Game 3 heads to Minnesota on April 23, with a tip-off time of 4:30 P.M. local time.
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