Timberwolves go up 3-1 despite injuries
- The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 112-96 in Game 4 on Saturday night, taking a 3-1 first-round lead even after Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo left with leg injuries. - Ayo Dosunmu scored a career-high 43 points off the bench on 13-of-17 shooting, including 5-for-5 from 3, in the highest-scoring playoff game by a reserve in 50 years. - Minnesota can close the series Monday in Denver, but Edwards is expected to miss multiple weeks after a left-knee bone bruise and hyperextension. (espn.com)
Minnesota is one win from eliminating Denver after beating the Nuggets 112-96 in Game 4 and taking a 3-1 series lead Saturday in Minneapolis. (espn.com) (nba.com) The Timberwolves did it without finishing the game with their normal starting backcourt. Anthony Edwards left with a left knee injury, and Donte DiVincenzo also exited with a leg injury. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) Ayo Dosunmu changed the game off the bench, scoring a career-high 43 points on 13-for-17 shooting, going 5-for-5 from 3-point range and 12-for-12 at the line. ESPN’s recap said it was the highest-scoring playoff performance by a reserve in 50 years. (espn.com) Naz Reid added 17 points and nine rebounds, Julius Randle had 15 points and nine boards, and 38-year-old Mike Conley played 20 minutes as Minnesota patched together lineups after the injuries. (espn.com) Denver led by seven in the third quarter, but Minnesota flipped the game with defense and transition baskets. The Nuggets finished 6-for-27 from 3-point range, and Jamal Murray’s 30 points were not enough to stop the Wolves’ fourth-quarter run. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) The series has swung hard after Denver won Game 1. Minnesota has now taken three straight, winning Game 2 in Denver and then both home games by 119-114, 113-96 and 112-96. (espn.com 1) (espn.com 2) The injury picture changed again Sunday. ESPN reported Edwards was diagnosed with a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee and is expected to miss multiple weeks, while the same report said DiVincenzo tore his Achilles. (espn.com) That leaves Chris Finch with a narrower backcourt rotation heading into Game 5 on Monday, April 27, in Denver. NBA.com lists Minnesota as leading the series 3-1, with Game 6 back in Minneapolis on April 30 only if necessary. (nba.com) (espn.com) Game 4 ended with ejections for Nikola Jokic and Julius Randle after a late confrontation near the Minnesota bench, but the larger problem for Denver is simpler: the Nuggets now have to win three straight against a team that has controlled the last three games. (espn.com)
