Ayo Dosunmu scores 43 off bench

Ayo Dosunmu came off Minnesota’s bench and scored a career-high 43 points Saturday, pushing the Timberwolves past Denver 112-96 for a 3-1 series lead. (newsday.com) (nba.com) Dosunmu finished 13-for-17 from the field, 5-for-5 from 3-point range and 12-for-12 at the foul line in Game 4 at Target Center on April 25. (nba.com) (espn.com) The outburst came after Minnesota lost Donte DiVincenzo to a lower-leg injury and Anthony Edwards to a knee injury, forcing coach Chris Finch to lean harder on Dosunmu’s scoring. (nba.com) (newsday.com) NBA.com said Dosunmu’s 43 points were the most by a reserve in any playoff game since Fred Brown scored 45 on April 15, 1976. (nba.com) That made the night bigger than a hot shooting game. Minnesota entered the weekend trying to protect home court in a first-round series against Denver and left one win from advancing. (nba.com) (newsday.com) Dosunmu had already given Minnesota 25 bench points in Game 3, and his Game 4 scoring surge arrived as the Timberwolves’ backcourt depth was suddenly under strain. (nba.com) The performance was also his first 40-point game in the National Basketball Association, according to multiple game recaps and highlight packages published after Saturday’s win. (newsday.com) (espn.com) Minnesota now heads to Game 5 with a 3-1 edge and a playoff record book entry from a reserve guard who was not in the opening lineup. (nba.com)