Nuggets take Game 1 behind Jokić Impressive Play

The Denver Nuggets opened their playoff run with a Game 1 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, holding off a late push to defend home court and take a 1-0 series lead.

Nikola Jokić set the tone from the start, finishing with 25 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in another complete performance.

Alongside him, Jamal Murray led the scoring with 30 points, adding five rebounds and seven assists. Aaron Gordon chipped in with 17 points and eight rebounds as Denver’s core once again stepped up on the big stage.

Minnesota pushed late and cut the lead to five points in the fourth, but Denver responded. Jokić produced back-to-back big plays, a tough and-one and a tip-in, that helped the Nuggets regain control and close out the game.

After the game, David Adelman praised how Jokić and Murray work together.

“They’re so patient. We can control the game at the end because of those two players.”

That control showed again in the closing moments, when Denver finished on a decisive run to shut down any comeback hopes.