Timberwolves take Game 3
- The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 113-96 to seize a 2–1 lead in their playoff series. - The scoreline was decisive, shifting momentum and increasing pressure on Denver at home. - Local coverage and live updates highlighted the win’s impact on the series balance (FOX9 Minneapolis‑St. Paul) (fox9.com)
Minnesota grabbed control of its first-round series Thursday night, beating Denver 113-96 at Target Center for a 2-1 lead. (apnews.com) The Timberwolves set the tone immediately, holding the Nuggets to 11 points in the first quarter and taking a 61-39 lead into halftime. Denver never got closer than 14 points after the break. (espn.com) Ayo Dosunmu scored a team-high 25 points off the bench, and Jaden McDaniels added 20 points and 10 rebounds after pregame chatter about Denver’s defense. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 27 points. (fox9.com) (apnews.com) Minnesota came home with the series tied after a 116-105 loss in Game 1 and a 119-114 win in Game 2 in Denver. The Game 3 result gives the Timberwolves two chances at home to push the defending champions closer to elimination. (fox9.com) (espn.com) The bigger shift was on defense. Minnesota held Denver to a season-low field-goal percentage, according to the Associated Press account carried by ESPN and other outlets. (espn.com) (nbcsports.com) Denver played without Aaron Gordon, who was ruled out before tipoff with a calf injury, thinning a rotation already under pressure from Minnesota’s size and perimeter defense. FOX 9 reported Minnesota also ruled out Jaylen Clark and Terrence Shannon Jr. before the game. (fox9.com) Local coverage in Minneapolis and Denver framed the margin as more than one bad night. The Star Tribune called it a rout that put Minnesota ahead 2-1, while The Denver Post described a Nuggets team that failed to respond after falling behind early. (startribune.com) (denverpost.com) Game 4 is Saturday night in Minneapolis, with Denver now trying to avoid leaving Target Center down 3-1. After a one-sided Game 3, the pressure in this series has moved to the Nuggets. (startribune.com) (espn.com)
