After being tested last weekend, the Denver Nuggets completed their gentleman’s sweep against the Minnesota Timberwolves, closing out their first-round series with a solid comeback effort to cap off a 112-109 victory in Game 5 this Tuesday.
It might not be the most impressive win of their playoffs thus far, but the fact that they were able to overcome a rubbish first-quarter and an early double-digit lead posted by the Wolves, Michael Malone can’t be more happy that they emerged victorious at the final buzzer.
“To win a series, I don’t care eight-seed, one-seed, all that other B.S. – to win a series in the playoffs is hard,” Malone said in postgame. “So I’m really proud of our guys.”
The Nuggets shot a collective 40 percent from the field, severely outmatched by the 50.6 percent mark by the Timberwolves. Nikola Jokic carried the all-around load spectacularly as he finished with 28 points, 17 boards and 12 assists, but he was extremely inefficient with 8-of-29 field goals. Michael Porter Jr. also found struggles in his shooting as he only recorded a passive eight points.
But thankfully, Jamal Murray was at their side to serve as the driving force of their Tuesday closeout dub. The explosive guard finished with a game-high 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting and five assists to push Denver towards the second round.
“Jamal plays with so much emotion. And I think he got our team going. … Jamal just wouldn’t quit, you know? And he made big shot after big shot,” Malone said of Murray.
As they jumped over the first-round, the Nuggets are now preparing themselves for a much daunting challenge that will be offered by the Phoenix Suns in their soon Conference Semifinals duel. Shortly after eliminating Minnesota, Phoenix outlasted the shorthanded L.A. Clippers via 3-1 series win.
As the top-seed team of the West, the Nuggets will welcome the Suns for their series opener on Friday.
