Anthony Edwards hits the decisive basket as the Timberwolves edge past the Nuggets in a thrilling 119-116 finish.

MINNEAPOLIS – Anthony Edwards knocked down a pivotal 7-foot floater with 25.7 seconds remaining, and Rudy Gobert sealed the win with two free throws as the Minnesota Timberwolves edged the Denver Nuggets 119-116 on Friday night.

Edwards led the Timberwolves with 29 points, while Gobert contributed 17 points and 14 rebounds. Julius Randle added 23 points and seven assists as Minnesota overcame a daunting 25-3 run by the Nuggets in the fourth quarter.

Nikola Jokic recorded 26 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds for Denver, hitting two free throws with 2:30 left to give the Nuggets a 116-109 lead before Minnesota staged a comeback. Jokic had a chance to tie the game at 119, but Gobert forced a miss on his corner three-pointer with just 2.3 seconds left.

Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets with 31 points and 11 rebounds in a rematch of last season's Western Conference semifinal. Michael Porter Jr. added 26 points, but the Nuggets were dealt a blow when point guard Jamal Murray exited in the third quarter due to concussion protocol after a collision with Randle.

Takeaways

Nuggets: To maintain their championship contention, the Nuggets need to lighten the load on three-time NBA MVP Jokic, and Gordon and Porter stepped up to help. However, their lack of bench depth is a concern, as the reserves were outscored 31-13.

Timberwolves: After finishing last season as the top defensive team, Minnesota has shown vulnerabilities, particularly in transition, allowing 22 fast-break points to the Nuggets.

Key Moment

With 5:14 left, Braun delivered a powerful dunk over the towering Gobert and celebrated with a taunting scream that provoked Gobert into grabbing him by the neck. The incident escalated, leading to a bench-clearing exchange and technical fouls for both players.

Key Stat

Gordon’s 31 points marked his second-highest scoring total in over four seasons with the Nuggets, as he shot 11 for 18 from the field.

Up Next

The Nuggets will host the Utah Jazz on Saturday, while the Timberwolves head to San Antonio on the same day.