Timberwolves even series

Minnesota left Denver with the series even after erasing a 19-point deficit and beating the Nuggets 119-114 in Game 2 on Monday. (espn.com) Anthony Edwards scored 30 points with 10 rebounds, and Julius Randle added 24 as the Timberwolves answered Denver’s 116-105 win in Game 1. (nba.com) Denver led 44-25 early in the second quarter after opening on a 39-25 first period, but Minnesota matched that 39-25 score in the second to reach halftime tied 64-64. Jamal Murray hit a 51-foot buzzer-beater before the break and finished with 30 points. (espn.com, nba.com) Nikola Jokic finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, and Denver still took a 93-90 lead into the fourth after Jokic scored 16 points in the third quarter. (espn.com) The series now shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Thursday, April 23, with the first-round matchup tied 1-1 between the No. 3 Nuggets and No. 6 Timberwolves. (nba.com) That split matters in the bracket because Denver had a chance to go home with a 2-0 lead, while Minnesota avoided falling to 0-2 before the series reached Target Center. The Nuggets are 8-0 in franchise history when they win the first two games of a playoff series, and the Timberwolves are 0-8 when they lose Games 1 and 2. (espn.com) Minnesota’s comeback also followed a familiar script in this matchup. The Timberwolves came back from 20 down in Denver in Game 7 two years ago to eliminate the Nuggets and reach the Western Conference finals. (espn.com) The closing sequence turned on free throws and one late turnover. After Edwards gave the ball away with 31 seconds left, Christian Braun split two foul shots with 19 seconds remaining, Randle made two free throws, and Donte DiVincenzo sealed it with a breakaway dunk. (espn.com) Game 3 now goes back to the building where Minnesota can press the edge it earned Monday: home court for a series that looked close before tipoff and looks tighter after 48 minutes in Denver. (nba.com, nba.com)