The Denver Nuggets got past the Los Angeles Lakers with ease. They beat LeBron James and Co. in the playoffs for the second year in a row and have proven themselves as one of the strong contenders for the title once again. But when they faced the Minnesota Timberwolves, that was not the case. The Nuggets struggled to break down the Wolves defense in the first two games, letting slip a 0-2 lead.
But in the last two games, the defending champs have managed to bounce back in style, winning two games in a row. They are certainly still in the series, and the Wolves surely have something to worry about.
After the game, head coach Michael Malone spoke about the team’s win. He said, “What did you find here in Minnesota or maybe even regain? Well, what I found is Rudy T is right, man. Never underestimate the heart of a champion. I mean, they were quick to write us off, but these guys, we won a championship a year ago.”
Malone also reiterated that the current Nuggets roster has fought through several tests over the last few years, including the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals last year. In addition to that, he mentioned that the franchise is not considering celebrating the last two wins, mainly because of how their focus remains on beating the Wolves for good in this series.
Nikola Jokic speaks after Nuggets’ win over the Timberwolves
When the Nuggets lost to the Wolves, Nikola Jokic hilariously claimed that the only way to defend the Wolves was to get a duplicate clone of himself. It is no secret that the Timberwolves have a versatile roster. They have players who can form a big starting five, and a small one as well. That is one of the biggest strengths of the team, after their impenetrable defense.
Regardless, the Nuggets have managed to break them down, thanks to a solidified team effort. Jokic spoke about what the mentality is after the win. He said, “We took a hit and we bounced back and hopefully we can defend the home court now.”
In addition to that, Jokic also credited the team’s defenders, Christian Braun, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Aaron Gordon for keeping the Wolves at bay.
Anthony Edwards’ 44-point game goes to waste
Anthony Edwards has undoubtedly been one of the standout players in this postseason. The NBA world has drawn comparisons between Ant and the great Michael Jordan, for the striking resemblance in both their looks and style of play on multiple occasions. Although the player has rejected these comparisons, he has been nothing short of brilliant. Once again, he was sensational against the Nuggets, scoring 44 points.
He went 16 for 25 when shooting, and also had a success rate of 3P with 62.5. He isn’t the best shooter or scorer, but the way Ant-Man has been getting past defenses like they don’t exist is something even rival fans should applaud.