The Wolves collective offers the Nuggets

For their fourth and final clash of the season (while waiting for the playoffs?), Nuggets and the Timberwolves fought another great battle, this time victorious Minnesotaafter three defeats in October, November and December.

He wears it great Nikola Jokic (35 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists) i Jamal Murray (25 points) per sequence, Denver encountered a larger collective, led Anthony Edwards (21 points, 6 assists), Jaden McDaniels (20 points), Bones Hyland (18 points), Donte DiVincenzo (17 points), Julius Randle (14 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists) or even Naz Reid (11 points, 6 rebounds), all respectively influential.

A meeting that the Timberwolves did not necessarily attack from the right side, initially taking water (-11) in front of the offensive science of Nikola Jokic who likes to face Rudi Gober. The solution then came from the bench for the guests, and from Bones Hyland, who remembered fond memories of his former team, with 15 points and several baskets in the first half alone.

A 3-pointer, apparently on the Minnesota side, also thanks to Donte DiVincenzo, tipped the scales against the minutes and the lead therefore switched sides. Especially since the Nuggets defense has been penalized too many times in the rushing game, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels are enjoying the transition.

Too lonely, even if Jamal Murray tried to ignite the game in the fourth quarter after his “poster” on Rudy Gobert, Nikola Jokic kept his team at arm’s length, but in the end Denver could not do much in front of the many solutions available to Chris Finch today.

Even more solid, with Naz Reed also upping the ante early in the final act, the Timberwolves held the lead until the end. The history of signing a third straight win and keeping it on the roster, facing Nuggets let down by their skill set, penalized defensively and continuing their collective yo-yo.

TO BE REMEMBERED

– It was Nikola Jokic against Minnesota. Ever-present on the Nuggets side, Nikola Jokic finally had to admit defeat and all his points, rebounds and assists weren’t enough against this Timberwolves team with six players over 10 points. Bones Hyland in the second quarter, Donte DiVincenzo in the third, Naz Reed in the fourth… There are a few who had their moment in the Mini ranks, while Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels or Julius Randle didn’t have to do too much. Clearly, this eight-man rotation suggested by Chris Finch is likely to hurt in the playoffs.

– Minnesota saves the day. In addition to overtaking the Nuggets in the table, in order to take the 4th place in the jungle, i.e. the Western Conference, the Timberwolves took the opportunity to pocket the first victory of the season against Nikola Jokić’s team. The kind of result that restores confidence and could be important in the event of a playoff series in the spring.

– Ankle warning for Cam Johnson. It’s a bad night for Cam Johnson, who didn’t score (0/6 shooting, including 0/4 3-pointers) and notably lost the fourth quarter to an injury. Shot in the ankle, he did not return to the game and is already very uncertain for the “back-to-back” in Utah.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.