David Adelman defended his team’s performance after the Denver Nuggets fell 112-96 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 at Target Center, a result that pushed Minnesota to a 3-1 series lead.
The Nuggets head coach rejected the idea that his team lacked fight, stressing that the loss was driven by execution rather than effort. “I thought we were very competitive tonight,” Adelman said.
He pointed to Denver’s shooting struggles as the turning point in the game. “You shoot 24% in the second half, it’s hard to win,” Adelman added while addressing the offensive drop-off after halftime.
Adelman also highlighted Denver’s efficiency issues in key stretches, referencing turnovers and poor shot selection. “The nine turnovers for 13 points and 24%. That’s not a competitive thing. That’s just having a really tough second half offensively,” he said.
Despite the result, Adelman insisted Denver controlled large portions of the game defensively. “When you hold a team to 108 in the NBA, you should have a great chance to win the game,” he said, even though Minnesota finished with 112 after late possessions.
The Nuggets coach also dismissed criticism about emotional control and game flow, backing his core players’ decision-making. “I would say the majority of those shots were good shots,” Adelman said when asked about late-game execution.
Denver’s offensive core struggled after halftime, with Adelman noting, “Our two best players are six for 24 in the second half,” while reiterating that shot quality remained consistent within the system.
Minnesota’s bench production was another decisive factor, with Adelman acknowledging the impact. “Two guys off their bench had 60 points combined. I don’t think that’s from competitive spirit issues,” he said, crediting the Wolves’ second unit.
The Nuggets trailed after a strong opening half and could not recover once Minnesota tightened defensive pressure and forced live-ball turnovers. “A lot of them were live ball turnovers for points,” Adelman said, calling the second-half miscues “unacceptable.”
Looking ahead to Game 5, Adelman emphasized urgency rather than reflection. “We got to win Game 5,” he said, framing the matchup as a necessity rather than a discussion point.
He added that belief inside the locker room remains intact despite the deficit. “I know what the team feels… there’s something in us,” Adelman said, stressing internal confidence heading into the next game.
The Nuggets now face elimination pressure as the series shifts back to Denver, where Game 5 will determine whether they extend the matchup or fall behind 3-2 in the Western Conference clash.
