Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman pointed to physicality and possession control after his team’s 110-98 Game 6 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in Minneapolis, which ended Denver’s postseason run.
“I just think we did not handle the athleticism and the speed properly,” Adelman said, summarizing the series. “The offensive rebounding killed us in multiple games that we lost.”
Adelman stressed the possession gap as the defining factor. “In a playoff game, if another team shoots 19 more shots than you, they possess the ball,” he said. “It felt like we would come back, cut it to three, and then give them two or three shots at it each time down.”
He added that the Timberwolves consistently won the margins. “That’s just not a recipe to win a game,” Adelman said. “They were better in every aspect of the game. I think it’s the main reason why they won the series.”
Denver was outrebounded 50-33, with Minnesota generating 19 offensive rebounds that repeatedly extended possessions and drained momentum swings.
Adelman described the emotional toll of the elimination. “In the short term, complete disappointment,” he said. “It just sucks. You’re not going to see the group together again.”
He also reflected on the roster’s identity despite the result. “It’s one of the most unique groups I’ve been around,” Adelman said. “Each person in there won us a game this season. That’s why the group was so connected.”
On the broader season context, Adelman called it “incomplete.” He said, “It felt like survival. Then we had the winning streak at the end. But things didn’t go our way. It felt incomplete throughout.”
Nikola Jokic finished with 28 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists, but Jamal Murray struggled against Jaden McDaniels, scoring 12 points on 4-for-17 shooting. Adelman acknowledged the defensive pressure on Murray.
“Jaden did a good job,” he said. “Jamal just had a tough night. When he did get good looks, it didn’t fall.”
He also addressed lineup challenges against Minnesota’s size. “The offensive rebounding killed us,” Adelman repeated. “When big guys get into the paint, it makes it tough to get a defensive rebound.”
Adelman declined to place blame on coaching or injuries alone. “I take responsibility for things that didn’t go well,” he said. “We have to come back better as a staff and as a team.”
