Anthony EdwardsPlayer·Anthony Edwards took over when it mattered most, dropping 30 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves on a stunning 19-point comeback victory over the Denver Nuggets, 119-114, in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series Monday night.
Trailing by as many as 19, Minnesota flipped the script in the fourth quarter, outscoring Denver 29-21 after entering the period down 93-90. Edwards drained key jumpers down the stretch, while Julius Randle sealed the win with two clutch free throws, setting up Donte DiVincenzo for a breakaway dunk that sent the Denver crowd into stunned silence. Randle finished with 24 points in a seamless Timberwolves debut in the postseason spotlight.
Denver's star duo faltered when the pressure peaked. Jamal Murray, who led all scorers with 30 points including a 51-foot buzzer-beater 3-pointer at halftime to knot it at 64-all, and Nikola Jokic (24 points, including 16 in the third quarter) combined for just 2-for-12 shooting in the final frame, managing only 4 points as Minnesota's defense clamped down. The Nuggets had ridden a 13-game win streak since their last loss on March 18, but couldn't close out a series lead on their home floor.
Both teams wrapped the regular season at 49-33 records, with the Timberwolves holding a solid 23-18 mark on the road -- a stat that now carries extra weight as the series shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Thursday night. Minnesota evens the best-of-seven matchup at 1-1 after dropping the opener, injecting fresh life into a rivalry that's seen Denver dominate lately.
Edwards' star turn underscored his growth into a playoff force, attacking the rim and hitting contested midrange shots to keep Minnesota alive. Randle, blending seamlessly with the Wolves' core, provided paint presence and poise, grabbing key boards amid the chaos. On the other end, Minnesota's length disrupted Denver's pick-and-roll rhythm, forcing Jokic into tough spots and limiting Murray's heat check after the break.
The Nuggets leaned on contributions from the supporting cast earlier -- Jokic orchestrated the third-quarter surge that built the lead -- but couldn't withstand Minnesota's fourth-quarter surge. Foul trouble and cold shooting from the stars handed the momentum shift to the visitors, who capitalized with relentless rim pressure and timely closeouts.
This result snaps Denver's streak and hands the homecourt edge back to Minnesota for the middle games. With seeding implications from the regular season now in the rearview, the focus turns to adjustments: Can the Nuggets rediscover their shooting touch without leaning solely on Murray and Jokic? Will Edwards and Randle sustain this chemistry against a desperate Denver squad?
Game 3 tips off Thursday in Minneapolis, where the Timberwolves aim to seize the series lead in front of their roaring home crowd. Both squads, evenly matched at 49-33, know every possession counts in this high-stakes Western Conference clash.
Julius Randle sets a pick for Anthony Edwards during a Timberwolves preseason game. Icon Sportswire/IMAGO
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