2024-05-08 02:42:36
The Nuggets lost the second game at home 80:106 (20:28, 15:33, 25:21, 20:24), allowing the Timberwolves to take a 2-0 lead in the series to four victories.
Minnesota is undefeated in the playoffs this season, winning all six games.
In Monday’s match, the visitors did most of the work in the first half, winning 61:35 after two quarters. In the second half of the match, the hosts could not break the course of the game and suffered a heavy loss.
Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns each scored 27 points for the winners, while Naz Reed and Nikeil Alexander-Walker added 14 points each.
Aaron Gordon’s 20 points and Nikola Jokic’s 16+16 could not save the home team from losing.
The next two games of the Western Conference semifinal series are in Minnesota on Friday and Sunday.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Timerwolves beat the Phoenix Suns 4-0, while the Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 4-1.
In the previous season, the Denver “Nuggets” defeated the Miami “Heat” 4-1 in the final series and won the NBA championship for the first time in history.
Meanwhile, Jalen Branson scored 43 points in the first match of the second round of the NBA playoffs on Monday, contributing to the success of the New York Knicks over the Indiana Pacers.
The New Yorkers opened the series at home with a 121-117 victory (27-24, 22-31, 33-32, 39-30), and Branson became the fourth player in NBA history to score at least 40 points in four consecutive playoff games. .
Branson scored 21 points already in the first quarter, when the Knicks were down by nine points for a while. Before him, Jerry West, Michael Jordan and Bernard King had scored 40 or more points in four straight playoff games.
In the last quarter, “Pacers” managed to get a nine-point advantage for a while, but 93 seconds before the end of regular time, the visitors were leading with 115:113. After a moment, Branson equalized, while 40 seconds before the final whistle, Donte DiVincenzo put the “Knicks” in the lead with a three-point shot. The guests scored two points in the remaining time, but Branson added three accurate free throws, ensuring success with 121-117.
Donte DiVincenzo was the second leading scorer with 25 points for the winners, while Josh Hart collected 24+13 and eight assists.
Myles Turner scored 23 points in the “Pacers” team, and Pascal Siakams scored 19.
The second game of the series will take place there in New York on Wednesday, after which two matches will be played at the “Pacers” court.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2 in the series, while the Indiana team beat the Milwaukee Bucks 4-2.
2024-05-08 02:42:36