The Denver Nuggets took Game 3 from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the playoffs, winning 117-90 to bring the Wolves’ lead in the series to 2-1. This was the first loss Minnesota has suffered this postseason. Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic led the way for the Nuggets with 48 combined points, while Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with 19 points. Murray finally heated up in Game 3 after struggling in the first two games, finishing with 24 points on 11-of-21 shooting. Jokic, the MVP, controlled the game with a historic line of 24 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and three blocks.
The Timberwolves struggled to score without Edwards going off as he did in the first two games. Denver’s strong defense limited him to 19 points on 15 shots. The Nuggets’ ability to limit turnovers and execute quality offense forced Minnesota to create consistent quality looks in the half court, where they struggle to out-execute Denver. Despite Edwards’ incredible playoff run, it was unrealistic to expect him to dominate against the defending champions. The loss in Game 3 is the first in the playoffs for the Timberwolves, and Game 4 on Sunday will be crucial in determining how they respond. The Nuggets have proven they can recover from a 2-0 deficit, and the Timberwolves will need to make adjustments to maintain their lead in the series.
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