Anthony Edwards stared immediately into his locker after Minnesota’s loss to Denver in Game 3, reflecting at the Timberwolves being on the point of removing.
Resolute, Edwards advised his teammates the Nuggets nonetheless had to win some other sport and their season wasn’t over. The 21-year-old big name made certain Minnesota’s season endured and the sequence returned to Denver.
Edwards scored 34 issues, Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 issues and 11 rebounds, and the Timberwolves beat the Nuggets 114-108 in extra time in Game 4 to steer clear of removing Sunday evening.
“I show pride. I did not wish to say I were given swept,” Edwards said. “I don’t ever want to say I got swept in my career. So, I definitely took it personally tonight.”
Nikola Jokic tied a playoff occupation prime with 43 issues and added 11 rebounds and 6 assists for the Nuggets.
“We had an opportunity to close a series,” Jokic stated. “We simply did not. They have been combating. They have been determined. But it’s what it’s.
Rudy Gobert added 14 issues and 15 rebounds for Minnesota, which hung on after Denver scored the general 12 issues of legislation to pressure extra time.
Game 5 is Tuesday in Denver.
“We show grit,” Towns stated. “It’s bizarre, when our backs are in opposition to the wall, we appear to have the opportunity to get a win. It’s nice that we were given it this night and we’ve got were given to do it 3 extra instances.”
Jamal Murray completed with 19 issues and Aaron Gordon scored 14 for Denver, which gave the impression primed to have a possibility to leisure sooner than the second one spherical the place it might face the winner of the Suns-Clippers sequence, which Phoenix leads 3-1.
The Nuggets have been taking a look to brush a chain for the primary time in group historical past, a truth now not misplaced in this yr’s group.
“That’s a missed opportunity, but we’re still in the lead, we’ve still got a commanding lead, and we’re going to go back home to our place and do what we need to do,” Murray stated.
Edwards took a step ahead this yr whilst Towns ignored 52 video games with a calf pressure. He took over the scoring load and produced a number of electrifying moments for the Timberwolves and used to be supported through his veteran teammates, who implored the athletic teenager to take keep an eye on in video games.
“I do know my group. I do know they are depending on me to select us up,” Edwards stated. “That’s simply what I do. I think like in the ones moments, that is after I come alive essentially the most.
Edwards resurrected Minnesota within the 3rd because the group went on a 23–9 run. He scored 16 of his issues within the quarter and the Timberwolves in the end led through 12 halfway throughout the fourth.
“He’s got a special quality we talked about,” Minnesota trainer Chris Finch stated. “He’s now not frightened of the ones moments at this day and age. You see what they are manufactured from. They can shy clear of them. He definitely does not.”
Minnesota misplaced within the first spherical to Memphis ultimate yr, surrendering 3 double-digit, fourth-quarter leads.
This time, Jokic took some other Wolves’ lead away — till they snapped again with 18 extra time issues.
“We’re not going to go undefeated in the postseason,” Denver trainer Michael Malone stated. “So, yeah, we lost a game, we had our chances, but we’ve got to go home and regroup and not feel sorry for ourselves and get ready to play against a team that has some life in them.”
WILD FINISH
Edwards tired a step-back jumper with 2:52 left in legislation that gave the Wolves a 96–84 lead, their greatest of the sport, however the Nuggets got here again with 3 immediately 3-pointers. A jumper through Jokic minimize the result in one with 49 seconds left. He used to be fouled through Towns at the different finish and made one in every of two loose throws to tie the sport with 12 seconds to head.
Edwards had the ball on the finish for the prospective game-winner, however Kentavious Caldwell-Pope knocked it out of his palms sooner than he may just shoot.
SAYING NOW
Teammates credited the paintings Nickeil Alexander-Walker did defensively on Murray, who averaged 27.3 issues within the first 3 video games. Alexander-Walker additionally scored six of his 8 issues in extra time.
“He was the MVP tonight,” Edwards stated.
TIP-INS
Nuggets: The league’s highest taking pictures group within the common season, Denver shot simply 44.2% from the sphere and used to be 12 of 35 from 3, its worst numbers of the sequence. … The Nuggets scored 22 issues off 12 Minnesota turnovers.
Timberwolves: Kyle Anderson, who had 11 issues off the bench, used to be declared out with a left eye/facial contusion after taking an errant hand to the face from Edwards within the fourth. Finch stated Anderson will see a watch specialist. ,