Nuggets dominate with 62 paint points

Denver kept its season alive Monday night, beating Minnesota 125-113 in Game 5 and trimming the Timberwolves’ series lead to 3-2. (nba.com) (espn.com) Nikola Jokić led Denver with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists, his 23rd career playoff triple-double. Jamal Murray added 24 points, Spencer Jones scored 20, and Cameron Johnson had 18. (nba.com) (espn.com) The Nuggets did most of their damage at the rim and off Minnesota mistakes. Denver outscored the Timberwolves 62-50 in the paint, won fast-break points 23-13, and turned 25 Wolves turnovers into 35 points. (nba.com) (upi.com) Minnesota helped dig the early hole with 14 first-half turnovers, including nine in the first quarter. Jokić then hit a 29-foot buzzer-beater to send Denver into halftime up 60-51. (nba.com) The game looked like a reset after Denver dropped three straight in the series. The Nuggets had been held under 100 points twice in Minneapolis, then shot 56.6% in Game 5 and posted 35 assists. (upi.com) (nba.com) Minnesota was missing both starting guards after injuries in Game 4. Anthony Edwards was out with a hyperextended left knee, and Donte DiVincenzo was out after surgery on a ruptured right Achilles. (nba.com) (upi.com) Julius Randle scored 27 points for the Timberwolves, and Ayo Dosunmu added 18, but Rudy Gobert was largely neutralized and Minnesota never led by more than three. Denver’s lead reached 27 before the Wolves cut it to 10 in the fourth. (nba.com) (espn.com) Chris Finch said the turnovers “hurt us,” while Jokić said Denver’s focus for the next game is to “create our own energy.” Game 6 is Thursday, April 30, in Minneapolis, with Game 7 scheduled for Saturday, May 2, in Denver if needed. (upi.com) (nba.com)