Nikola Jokić led the Denver Nuggets to victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves with 41 points, securing the top spot in the tightly contested Western Conference playoff race. Despite facing tough defense from Rudy Gobert, Jokic shot an impressive 16 of 20. Jamal Murray contributed 20 points, while Michael Porter Jr. added 18.
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 25 points, but his impact waned in the fourth quarter as the Nuggets pulled ahead. Mike Conley chipped in 19 points for the Wolves.
With a record of 56-24, the Nuggets now hold a one-game lead over both Minnesota and Oklahoma City, who are both 55-25. The Thunder also secured a big win against San Antonio.
Last year’s NBA champions, the Nuggets, have a strong home record of 33-8. They need to finish ahead of both the Thunder and the Wolves to clinch the top seed, as the latter has a better division winning percentage.
Coach Michael Malone emphasized the importance of player health heading into the playoffs, prioritizing it over securing the top seed. Both Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon had minutes restrictions due to injury concerns.
The Timberwolves, who struggled with injuries last year, are in a better position this time, with Karl-Anthony Towns set to return soon.
