DENVER – Overcoming a sluggish start and a 10-point first-quarter deficit, the No. 3 seed Denver Nuggets used a dominant second half to defeat the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105 on Saturday, April 18, 2026. The victory at Ball Arena gives the defending Western Conference contenders a 1-0 lead in their opening-round series.
The game was a tale of two halves, as Denver’s championship experience eventually wore down a younger Timberwolves squad that struggled with foul trouble and transition defense in the later stages.
Historic Night for the “Dynamic Duo”
Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray weren’t just the catalysts for the win; they etched their names alongside NBA royalty. The pair became only the second duo in NBA history—joining Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen—to record at least 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists each in eight different playoff games.
-
Nikola Jokić: Notched a “casual” triple-double with 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. Despite early turnover issues, Jokić took over the fourth quarter, scoring a transition bucket in the final minute to put the game out of reach.
-
Jamal Murray: Led all scorers with 30 points and added 7 assists. His 14-point second-quarter explosion was credited with “dragging Denver back into the game,” erasing Minnesota’s early momentum.
-
Aaron Gordon: While limited by three early fouls, Gordon’s defensive presence in the third quarter helped limit Minnesota to just six made field goals in the period.
Timberwolves Struggle to Maintain Early Lead
Minnesota looked like the aggressor early, taking a 30-23 lead after the first quarter behind strong perimeter shooting from Donte DiVincenzo. However, the Wolves were unable to sustain the pressure as Denver turned the game into a physical grind.
-
Anthony Edwards: Led Minnesota with 22 points, but struggled with efficiency, shooting 7-of-19 from the field (2-of-9 from three).
-
Foul Trouble: Minnesota’s defense was plagued by whistles, with Denver finishing +16 in made free throws. Jaden McDaniels was assessed a Flagrant-1 foul in the first half for a landing-zone violation on Jamal Murray.
-
The “Twin Towers”: Rudy Gobert (15 rebounds) and Julius Randle provided early interior scoring, but were neutralized late as Denver moved Jokić to the perimeter to facilitate the offense.
Key Game Stats
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
| Jamal Murray | DEN | 30 | 5 | 7 |
| Nikola Jokić | DEN | 25 | 13 | 11 |
| Anthony Edwards | MIN | 22 | 4 | 3 |
| Jaden McDaniels | MIN | 15 | 6 | 2 |
Series Schedule (Nuggets Lead 1-0)
The series remains in Denver for Game 2 before moving to the Target Center in Minneapolis.
-
Game 2: Tuesday, April 21 @ Ball Arena (8:00 PM ET)
-
Game 3: Friday, April 24 @ Target Center (7:00 PM ET)
-
Game 4: Sunday, April 26 @ Target Center (6:00 PM ET)
The Nuggets will look to extend their lead on Tuesday night, while the Timberwolves must find a way to maintain their offensive rhythm for all four quarters to avoid returning home in a 2-0 hole.
