THE Denver Nuggets blew through the playoffs last year, never trailing in a series and dropping only four games on their way to the title.
Things are different this season, as the Minnesota Timberwolves showed in winning Game 1 in Denver on Saturday night (Sunday in Manila). Minnesota’s 106-99 victory gives it homecourt advantage in the Western Conference semifinals with a chance to go up 2-0 Monday night (Tuesday in Manila) in Game 2.
The Timberwolves have started this postseason with five straight wins– all of them convincing wins. Minnesota was the team executing down the stretch Saturday night, harassing the Nuggets into mistakes they usually inflict on opponents.
But Denver isn’t panicking heading into what could be considered a must-win at home on Monday night.
“Sweeping the playoffs probably wouldn’t be as fun when we look back on the memories,” Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson said.
While the Timberwolves have coasted through the postseason the Nuggets had to grind out wins in the first round. On Saturday, they ran into a familiar opponent, one that bothered Nikola Jokic into an 11-for-25 shooting night and held most of the Denver lineup in check.
Now the onus is on the Nuggets to make the adjustments and monitor Jamal Murray’s injured calf. Murray has not shot the ball well in six playoff games, but he isn’t using it as an excuse.
“Everybody’s got leg injuries. Everybody’s playing through something at this point in the season,” said Murray, who had 17 points in Game 1. “My calf is no different than anybody else on the team.”
One player who isn’t struggling is Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards, who has become dominant in the postseason. He had 25 of the Timberwolves’ 40 points in the first half of Game 1, finished with 43 points, and has scored 119 in the last three playoff games. He also has gained a fan: Jokic.
