Minnesota crushes champion Denver and flies to 2-0 in the NBA playoffs

The reigning champion is at his worst. The Denver Nuggets (number 2 in the Western Conference) lost again at home against the euphoric Minnesota Timberwolves (80-106), on Monday night in Game 2 of their second playoff round. A real slide this time: despite the absence of Wolves’ defensive pillar Rudy Gobert (paternity), Nikola Jokic and his partners were completely suffocated. Minnesota (3rd) leads the series 2-0 before hosting the next two games, Friday and Sunday at the Target Center.

Writers with 27 points each, Anthony Edwards (2nd scorer in the playoffs with an average of 33.4 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns brought Minnesota to a sixth consecutive victory in these playoffs, after the “clean sweep” (4 wins to 0) inflicted on Phoenix in the first round.

But it was above all the hyper-physical defense of the Wolves that made the difference, putting a mouthful on the stars of the Nuggets. Nikola Jokic signed 16 points, 16 rebounds and 8 assists, but made only 5 of 13 shots, while Jamal Murray (albeit 13 rebounds) finished with a disastrous 3/18 shooting.