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00:00:00On Prime Tip-Off, the Minnesota Timberwolves are the sixth seed for the second consecutive year.
00:00:06The Timber Nuggets are number three and enter the playoffs as the hottest team in the NBA.
00:00:14It's great to have you with us this afternoon from the Rockies, where they had snow in 32 degrees yesterday.
00:00:21Kevin Harlan with a couple of Hall of Famers, Dwayne Wade and Candace Parker.
00:00:25And we'll check in with our sideline reporter, Allie Clifton, in just a matter of moments.
00:00:29All right, Dwayne, game one of a series.
00:00:32What's the level of importance?
00:00:34Well, Candace and I believe that game one definitely sets the tone.
00:00:37But I believe in something called a winning formula.
00:00:40Where your star players win you two games.
00:00:43That's Ant and that's Joker.
00:00:44And your role players win you one game.
00:00:46That's when an unexpectedly person shows up.
00:00:50And then your coaches have to win you one game.
00:00:52That's adjustments.
00:00:53That's discipline.
00:00:54That's still in the game.
00:00:55I'm with Dwayne.
00:00:56You've got to set the tone in game one.
00:00:58I believe the pressure is always on the home team.
00:01:00So let's see what Minnesota does.
00:01:02Let's see what happens this afternoon.
00:01:03All right.
00:01:04In the history of the NBA playoffs, only 10 players have averaged 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
00:01:13And we're lucky enough to have two of them in today's game.
00:01:15Yes, and one of them by the name of Joker.
00:01:18Joker is a perennial all-star, perennial first team and second team all-NBA.
00:01:23But he has video game numbers.
00:01:25You look at his just casual 50-point triple-double.
00:01:28I mean, he has literally changed the way that we think of the center position in the NBA.
00:01:34And that man came in with a little knee problems.
00:01:36I know a little bit about that.
00:01:37And it's because he's the engine of this team where it's concerned.
00:01:40He's averaging 28 points a game, the most in Timberwolves history.
00:01:44He's an elite shot creator.
00:01:45He's great at all levels.
00:01:46He's a down-pressure guy.
00:01:48But what we love most about him, Candace, is he shows up in the biggest moments.
00:01:52He always has.
00:01:53Now, these two teams, very familiar with one another, over the last three seasons,
00:01:58they've met 28 times, regular season and playoffs.
00:02:0214 wins for the Nuggets, 14 wins for the Timberwolves.
00:02:06Well, this is called right here, this is called a real rivalry right here.
00:02:11These two teams right here, they have confidence versus each other.
00:02:15No one really, really has the mental edge.
00:02:18When you have Joker controlling, you have Ant-Man attacking, it's not about talent.
00:02:23It's about habits, and it's about executing.
00:02:26And in 2023-24, we remember this 0-2 well.
00:02:29Wolves got off to a 2-0 start.
00:02:31Denver came back, won the next three, behind Joker's triple-doubles.
00:02:36But then Minnesota, in game seven, played the spoiler, overcoming a 20-point deficit.
00:02:43Ant heated up in the fourth, and that's what we call a rivalry, Kevin.
00:02:49It's perhaps the most talked-about first-round series.
00:02:53The Minnesota Timberwolves.
00:02:56The Denver Nuggets.
00:02:58These are the NBA Playoffs on Prime.
00:03:05Before it tipped off, the Timberwolves against the Nuggets in the opening game of the playoffs.
00:03:10And they are meeting in the playoffs for the third time in four years.
00:03:13I mean, you cannot ask for anything better in a series, Dirk.
00:03:16Yeah, I'm hyped for this one.
00:03:17This is my favorite matchup.
00:03:19The star power is there.
00:03:20The teams are great.
00:03:21They met a few times.
00:03:22They have a little rivalry going.
00:03:24So there's a lot of great matchups across the board.
00:03:27So we're excited for this one.
00:03:28Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing, you know, the others of these teams.
00:03:32You know, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Christian Brown, Bruce Brown.
00:03:35There's so many guys on each side.
00:03:38The Nugget, the Timberwolves bench, I think is going to be very, very important in this series.
00:03:43Io, Nas Reed, Bones, those guys will need to come in and give them a spark.
00:03:49Like, this Denver Nuggets team, you know, hasn't had many games healthy this year.
00:03:53So, you know, we'll see if they can sort of get it together in the playoffs.
00:03:57Yeah, and nobody's reinventing the wheel right now.
00:03:59I think these teams both know each other very well.
00:04:01So it's just going to come down to who's going to impose their will, who wants it more,
00:04:04who's going to make the least amount of mistakes, and who's going to close out games.
00:04:08These kind of games are going to be possession games.
00:04:10I'm excited for the new acquisitions.
00:04:12You know, neither team got over the hump last year in the playoffs, so they make additions.
00:04:16Don Sumo with the Timberwolves, Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown comes back, others with the Nuggets.
00:04:21What impact do they have in this playoff series?
00:04:23That's going to be a really important component in who wins.
00:04:25Yeah, Wolves on a quest, of course, to make it to the finals,
00:04:27but also to get back to the conference finals for the third straight season.
00:04:31Tip-off is just ahead.
00:04:33Ant and the Timberwolves against Yogurt and the Nuggets will get you out to the game right after this.
00:04:48I'm going to get at you.
00:04:50Minnesota, they say you the one, yet you haven't won.
00:04:56Denver, go get your lick back.
00:05:03Timberwolves, Nuggets, game one.
00:05:06Welcome to the NBA Playoffs on Prime.
00:05:10Be the noise.
00:05:22And there is a lot of noise in the Mile High City.
00:05:26Welcome to the NBA Playoffs presented by Google
00:05:30with first-round coverage on Prime presented by Lilly.
00:05:35Temperature climbing, snow yesterday, 32 degrees inside.
00:05:41It is rocking.
00:05:43This team won the NBA championship just a couple years ago.
00:05:47They have high hopes entering these 2026 NBA Playoffs.
00:05:58Right now, let's take a look at today's starting lineups.
00:06:02They're presented by DoorDash.
00:06:04The Timberwolves, of course, led by Anthony Edwards.
00:06:07But we know, Dwayne, that his knee is not 100%.
00:06:11And how he comes out, how he traverses this game will be one of the big stories.
00:06:16It's going to be very important of how he attacks this game early.
00:06:19We're going to be looking to see where his mentality is.
00:06:22But we know Ant is a gamer, and he does this.
00:06:27And then, for the Denver Nuggets, everything is really working,
00:06:31especially the combination, Candice, of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
00:06:37Boy, they fit so well together.
00:06:39Well, when you have an MVP three times that's having career numbers,
00:06:42and you have Jamal Murray that's coming off of his first all-star selection
00:06:46playing great basketball career numbers across the board, they are led.
00:06:51But let's not forget, they have a supporting cast that is really playing well as well.
00:06:55And there's a look at David Adelman.
00:06:58At one time, he was a Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach.
00:07:02His dad, Rick, coached the team.
00:07:05David Adelman in his first full season.
00:07:07And there is sixth-year head coach Chris Finch, who continues to make this team a winner.
00:07:16They've won 49 games or more for a third consecutive season.
00:07:23Wow, is this place going crazy.
00:07:26They love their Nuggets.
00:07:32But the Timberwolves have faced this before.
00:07:34In fact, the Timberwolves have one of the best road playoff records in the NBA over the last couple years.
00:07:41Well, they're ready for this.
00:07:42And they have a guy that they believe in.
00:07:44They all get around Ant-Man.
00:07:46They all get around Rudy on the defensive end of the floor.
00:07:48So they got guys that they believe in, and they know their game can travel.
00:07:52All right, the officials this afternoon for this Game 1, the crew chief, the heralded, Zach Zarba.
00:07:5923rd season.
00:08:00The referee is Jason Goble.
00:08:04He is in his 10th season.
00:08:06And the umpire is Eric Galen in his 18th.
00:08:10Our alternate, Deidre Taylor.
00:08:13Nick Booker, Kevin Cutler in the replay center.
00:08:16And away we go in the Rockies.
00:08:18It'll be controlled by the Wolves.
00:08:20Yes, and the Wolves, as Coach Bench said, they have to take care of the ball.
00:08:25They have to run good offense.
00:08:27And then on the other end, they have to set the tone with their defense.
00:08:31No one is sitting down in this building right now.
00:08:33Did you hit a casino in this building right now, Candace?
00:08:35It is playoff time.
00:08:37The noise is deafening.
00:08:38And Daniels can't hit.
00:08:40Here's Jokic.
00:08:41And Aaron Gordon bumping his way into Edwards.
00:08:44Got his own miss.
00:08:46Fouled as he went up.
00:08:47And immediately, the Nuggets go to Aaron Gordon.
00:08:51We talk about Aaron Gordon's production on the defensive end.
00:08:54But this year, he has really had an impact on the Nuggets' offense offensively.
00:08:59We know he likes to hang out in that dunker spot.
00:09:01Again, first possession going down and getting it to a matchup against Ann Edwards.
00:09:05He's incredible in that dunker spot.
00:09:07He makes sure that he continues to move.
00:09:09You never know where he is.
00:09:10You can't keep a hand on him.
00:09:12And he's just a mismatch problem for anyone down there.
00:09:16Dante DiVincenzo picked up his first personal foul for the Wolves.
00:09:21And D-Wade, his ability to play off of Joker and Murray is what sets him apart.
00:09:27I mean, he's knocking down the three at 40% nearly this year.
00:09:31But then also hanging out in the dunker spot and causing mismatch problems.
00:09:37That's three months for the Wolves, 18 and 14.
00:09:41They didn't finish the way they wanted to after a pretty quick start, clearly.
00:09:45It's DiVincenzo on the screen by Gobert.
00:09:48Well, just good offense.
00:09:49Like Coach said, they want to make sure that their game plan is executed.
00:09:53And they came out, they ran and said they executed and got the shot that they wanted.
00:09:58Denver, the number one scoring team in the NBA.
00:10:00You're going to see a lot of Jokic and Murray going head-to-head against this defense of the Wolves.
00:10:08And another foul is called.
00:10:10It goes on Minnesota's Anthony Edwards.
00:10:13But D-Wade, D-Wade, I'll keep talking about it.
00:10:14I'm not a traditional point guard, but I am somebody who can run the offense.
00:10:17And this is what he does very well is make sure that when he's knocking down shots,
00:10:21this team is very dangerous.
00:10:24Jokic led the league in assists.
00:10:26Off to Murray.
00:10:27Bob Lecine, three years away.
00:10:29No good by Cam Johnson.
00:10:31It ricochets out of bounds.
00:10:33The officials look with some clarity.
00:10:37It will be Denver's ball.
00:10:40Well, there's a theory in the NBA.
00:10:44In the playoffs, your role players play well at home.
00:10:46And so it's going to be key that Cam Johnson, as Randall, gets the foul.
00:10:51Was the ball inbounded before?
00:10:56It'll just be a side out.
00:11:00Right here, you see Randall being physical with Aaron Gordon.
00:11:07He's like, it's the playoffs, ref.
00:11:10Allow us to be physical.
00:11:11Johnson will take it right down the lane.
00:11:18Rolls the other way.
00:11:19Julius Randall.
00:11:21And Anthony Edwards, third leading scorer.
00:11:23Given shot to another three.
00:11:24He caught it again.
00:11:25He's at two from distance to start the game.
00:11:28Well, you know, Ant-Man is trying to feel his way into this game right now.
00:11:31And Jim DiVincenzo coming out, knocking these shots down.
00:11:34I'm telling you, the confidence that this guy brings to this team when he's playing this
00:11:37way is unbelievable.
00:11:38And when you're a shooter and those first two go down, that basket gets bigger and bigger.
00:11:43Here's Edwards, stuck back.
00:11:45It's a two.
00:11:46Reformation rebound.
00:11:49Everett owned the season 28-13.
00:11:52Christian Brown.
00:11:53No.
00:11:54DiVincenzo's got it.
00:11:56Edwards is on the deck and holding his leg already as he hobbles the other way.
00:12:01McDaniels here.
00:12:02He is dancing on Gordon, who picks up the foul on the defense of Jayden McDaniels.
00:12:08He's number one on Gordon.
00:12:10And McDaniels is growing into this role this year.
00:12:14He has grown every year.
00:12:16He's been a member of this team.
00:12:17But this year, taking more on the offensive load, playmaking, career numbers across the
00:12:23board.
00:12:23I mean, we talk about internal growth.
00:12:27McDaniels, an 83% free throw shooter.
00:12:37Welcome, everyone, to Denver.
00:12:40For those of you just watching game one of our prime triple header, Kevin Harlan, Hall
00:12:44of Famers, Candace Parker, Dwayne Wade, and Allie Clifton is on our sideline.
00:12:49Thrilled to have you with us.
00:12:51This is perhaps the most talked about first round matchup in these NBA playoffs.
00:12:56The Nuggets and the Wolves, familiar with one another.
00:12:59And star power with Gordon at three.
00:13:02Rebound, go Bale.
00:13:04We have two of the top three highest scoring players in the game, including Edwards, number
00:13:08three, and Jokic, number eight.
00:13:11The Wolves have it here.
00:13:12And McDaniels working down that baseline for two.
00:13:15Well, it's like, once again, it may get his confidence in his game.
00:13:18The others are more and the most important to start this game off.
00:13:22So, you see Dante being very aggressive, you see Jake being very aggressive early.
00:13:27He was in the landing zone, and a foul on McDaniels.
00:13:30Oh, and down goes Murray holding onto that ankle, and that's the reason why that rule is there.
00:13:36And they're going to look at it probably again.
00:13:39Yep, they will.
00:13:419-15 in the first.
00:13:42Watch it again.
00:13:43Right here, Murray getting into a shot.
00:13:46McDaniels goes forward.
00:13:47And, again, they put this rule in for a defensive foul on McDaniels.
00:13:51The play is being reviewed to see if it meets the criteria for an illegal closeout.
00:13:54They put this rule in.
00:13:56I remember Kawhi Leonard going down in Golden State his year with the Spurs.
00:14:02And all in the name of safety.
00:14:04All in the name of keeping the shooter safe.
00:14:06Yep.
00:14:07Because when you're up there, you're so open for anything that could happen in mid-flight.
00:14:12And so as they take a look at it over there, and Zach Zarba, for those of you joining us,
00:14:16is our crew chief here in Denver this afternoon.
00:14:20And here is again the shot by Murray with the defense by McDaniels, a terrific defensive player.
00:14:28It doesn't look like McDaniels is going forward into the shooting.
00:14:33It looks like Murray's motion takes him forward into his foot.
00:14:36I think it's just a common foul.
00:14:37And it looked like his defense almost just carried him into that position,
00:14:40but it wasn't like he stuck out a foot.
00:14:43Yeah, he didn't extend a foot even more.
00:14:44It kind of landed right where his body landed.
00:14:46He didn't go out any further.
00:14:47So I agree with Candace.
00:14:50Timberwolves come in.
00:14:52A 49-win team.
00:14:55As they discuss it here.
00:14:58Wolves are number six and Denver number three in the seating in the Western Conference
00:15:04as we get our new audience up to speed.
00:15:08And I can't emphasize enough the importance for Minnesota to get out to a big league early.
00:15:14As the road team, you want to hit shots.
00:15:16DiVincenzo doing that.
00:15:18McDaniels doing that.
00:15:20It's foot-to-foot.
00:15:22That's foot-to-foot contact.
00:15:24It is.
00:15:25And I...
00:15:26Before the Reds come back...
00:15:28Okay.
00:15:30After review, it's been deemed McDaniels does not give Murray time and space to land.
00:15:35There's foot-to-foot contact with a high potential for injury.
00:15:38This foul has been upgraded to a flagrant foul.
00:15:39Penalty one.
00:15:41Three free throws for Murray.
00:15:44So Murray will be at the line.
00:15:48Yeah, the emphasis on foot-to-foot contact this year.
00:15:51That angle, great work by our camera guys.
00:15:54That angle showed just that.
00:15:56And that is why Murray is going to the free throw line.
00:15:59So the Denver Nuggets take the fourth most free throw attempts of any team in the NBA.
00:16:05And Candace, they're good.
00:16:07They're top five in free throw percentage.
00:16:09Well, you understand in the postseason, you've got to do two things.
00:16:12You've got to take care of the basketball, and you've got to knock down free throws at the charity strike.
00:16:16Well, that's why you need a guy like Jamal Murray, a guy especially late in games that you can count
00:16:19on.
00:16:20You know he can get his shot, but you also, too, knowing that he can get to the foul line.
00:16:23He's going to put a lot of pressure on the defense, and they're going to have to do one or
00:16:28the other.
00:16:28Let him shoot, or he's going to get a foul.
00:16:30So you need a guy like this if you want to win a championship.
00:16:36Jamal Murray, a career year.
00:16:38He averaged 25 points, grabbed four rebounds, and had seven assists a game with his 18 double-doubles,
00:16:45a career season in every category.
00:16:48He was healthy.
00:16:49He played a lot, and it showed.
00:16:52And Coach Adelman talked to us before the game about just that.
00:16:55Jamal Murray's headspace is the best it's ever been,
00:16:58and we all know the importance of the mental game in basketball.
00:17:01The mentality that you bring, and he's playing free, he's playing happy,
00:17:05and I think that's why he's shooting 42% from beyond the arc.
00:17:08It's Jokic in to go bare.
00:17:09The ball is deflected.
00:17:11It is out of bounds.
00:17:12It is off of Denver.
00:17:14I like that point that Coach Adelman made about a lot of people don't talk about the mental space of
00:17:19athletes.
00:17:19You can have great statistics and have a good year,
00:17:21but not really be where you need to be because you're mental,
00:17:24because a lot of things in your life is not in the place you need to be.
00:17:28Julius Randle, got it.
00:17:29And that is a great sign from Minnesota.
00:17:33The others are stepping up.
00:17:34Randle, his numbers have dipped a little bit after All-Star break.
00:17:37It's got to feel good getting him in that mid-post early and seeing it go down.
00:17:41Johnson with a three.
00:17:46Cam Johnson buries one from outside.
00:17:50I love how aggressive Johnson is, looking for a shot very early on.
00:17:54They're going to need their role players to step up very early in this game.
00:17:58Edwards, DiVincenzo's hit a couple threes already.
00:18:01Oh, the try by Nathaniel's as he took it in.
00:18:04Ricochet's away.
00:18:06Gobert is arguing that they want to take a look at it.
00:18:10Timeout taken by Minnesota.
00:18:128.19 to go.
00:18:14Jokic was in there as the line of defense.
00:18:20There will be a challenge by Minnesota.
00:18:23Watch it again.
00:18:25Yep, he got the elbow.
00:18:28Minnesota's challenging the out-of-out.
00:18:33Successful, the fouls on Jokic at the line will be the Wolves.
00:18:37And we say good afternoon to the fourth member of our crew, Allie Clifton.
00:18:42Hey, Kevin, they often say a player's best ability is his availability.
00:18:45But the reality for T-Wolves star Anthony Edwards,
00:18:48his availability to close out the regular season was simply just limited.
00:18:52Anthony Edwards playing just four games since March 14th
00:18:55as he dealt with right knee issues, injury maintenance.
00:18:57He said his focus coming into these playoffs since that was for him
00:19:00starting to get his body right, mainly getting his body fat down.
00:19:04He feels he's done that.
00:19:05He's down to 218 pounds, which he noted he hasn't been since he was 18 years old.
00:19:10He played this season for reference, guys, at 226.
00:19:12So game shape, his conditioning, that was the priority.
00:19:15And then from there, he admitted since he hasn't played much the last month,
00:19:18he had to get his rhythm too, getting his shots back,
00:19:21feeling comfortable running, defending.
00:19:22Though he said he had to factor it all in coming into the postseason,
00:19:26it is something we will keep an eye on,
00:19:28making sure that knee and his health is where it needs to be.
00:19:31Allie, thank you.
00:19:32Here is Rando.
00:19:33He's hit one.
00:19:34He puts up another.
00:19:35No good.
00:19:36I guess the question may be with Ant is what kind of game shape is he in
00:19:39because he's missed so much time.
00:19:41Well, you're going to see because in Denver,
00:19:44there is high altitude and you feel it.
00:19:46And so to come back in your first game,
00:19:49it's a little bit of rhythm and a little bit of altitude.
00:19:52Yeah, and Ant has really dealt with a lot of injuries in his career.
00:19:54So you can see him just kind of working his way into it a little bit.
00:19:58There's a shot right there.
00:19:59Rebound yanked off the glass by Aaron Gordon.
00:20:03And as you know, D-Wade, when you're coming back,
00:20:05not having your legs,
00:20:06sometimes your shots are a little short, especially early.
00:20:09Randall was in the way, draws the Timberwolves foul on the wing,
00:20:13on the driving, Gordon.
00:20:15Well, to your point, we've got altitude.
00:20:17We have an early game.
00:20:19It's a 1.30 local start here on the Rockies.
00:20:22And you're trying to get Reb back up and do what you do.
00:20:26Yeah, man, listen, I didn't like early games, Candace.
00:20:28I don't know about you,
00:20:30but you have to find a way while you're in a locker room,
00:20:33while you're in the hallway.
00:20:34You have to find your way before you get on this court
00:20:36that you already labored up,
00:20:38you're already ready to go
00:20:39because you don't have time to work yourself into a playoff game.
00:20:42Randall just picked up his second personal foul.
00:20:45And Randall emphaticed that that was not a foul call,
00:20:49that he went straight up.
00:20:50But D-Wade, to your point,
00:20:52Coach Adaman said they had to make a decision
00:20:55of whether they wanted to bring guys in early.
00:20:58They elected to do an 11 o'clock walkthrough.
00:21:00It's so important to be locked in on your scouting report
00:21:04because possessions matter,
00:21:06and each play can impact the game.
00:21:08Fouls read is checked in for Randall.
00:21:10Two fouls on the bench.
00:21:12We'll keep track of that early
00:21:13in the first five minutes of the game.
00:21:15Question five minutes.
00:21:18McDaniels, his 17-footer is good.
00:21:20It was over Johnson.
00:21:21Well, we know we all talk about Dave McDaniels as a stopper,
00:21:24but what he is is he's the X-Factor on this team.
00:21:26Offensively, when he's playing this way,
00:21:28this team is really, really good.
00:21:30And he gets the turnover and hammers it home.
00:21:33And McDaniels has been available all season.
00:21:35We've seen what he's grown on the offensive end,
00:21:38but he causes havoc with his link in activity
00:21:40on the defensive end as well.
00:21:42Johnson can't get the three.
00:21:43Here comes Edwards.
00:21:46Minnesota, the number seven scoring team in the NBA.
00:21:49And you see how they're loading up against Ant.
00:21:52He hasn't come off of many pick and rolls,
00:21:54but we're going to see if they're going to put two on the ball,
00:21:55but they are definitely going to show him a crowd.
00:21:58And that's over Murray.
00:22:02And a 7-0 Minnesota run.
00:22:04Game one on the road.
00:22:06And look at that score.
00:22:08Against the Nuggets, who have won 12 consecutive games coming in.
00:22:12Edwards laces one from outside.
00:22:156-27 in the first.
00:22:17These are the NBA playoffs on Prime.
00:22:20You say this is about the best way you could possibly begin.
00:22:23Yes, the others started hitting shots in McDaniels and DiVincenzo,
00:22:28and then Ant joined the party.
00:22:29So this is a great start for Timberwolves.
00:22:31Oh, this is the best start right here.
00:22:32And Coach talked about it, especially when it comes to Jaden McDaniels.
00:22:35He's probably the most important player when he's out
00:22:38that they miss the most because of everything that he does on the floor.
00:22:41And he does a lot.
00:22:42We've seen it already.
00:22:44DiVincenzo with a couple of threes.
00:22:46Let's now take a look at today's epic performance presented by Hyundai.
00:22:50Well, we love Aaron Gordon because he does all the things, Candace.
00:22:54Let's talk about him defensively.
00:22:55He's going to be in all the right places.
00:22:57He's going to make sure he protects the basket.
00:22:59He's going to make sure that he can switch on multiple defenders as well.
00:23:03And then offensively, Candace, you know he does everything.
00:23:05Yes, he does everything.
00:23:06And the stats don't lie.
00:23:08AG's impact is clear.
00:23:1027-9 record with him and a 27-19 without.
00:23:14He is a key member of that pick and roll.
00:23:16We talk about Jokic, we talk about Murray being able to do it all.
00:23:19But him hanging out in the Duggar spot,
00:23:21him being able to knock down 39% from deep,
00:23:24he is a key member to this team.
00:23:26Tim Hardaway has checked in for the Denver Nuggets.
00:23:29They have Cam Johnson on the bench.
00:23:31Jokic on top.
00:23:32Gobert is there.
00:23:33Jokic has had success against Gobert.
00:23:36And back out to Murray to reset.
00:23:38And so, Gobert makes the steal.
00:23:41So now, but then he stepped out of bounds.
00:23:45But there's a lot on his shoulders, right?
00:23:47I mean, because we just think four-time defensive player of the year
00:23:50and a nine-time all-defensive player,
00:23:53you expect so much,
00:23:54but he's going up against arguably the best player in the league.
00:23:57Well, you know, Gobert's strength as a defender
00:24:00is not necessarily his one-on-one ability.
00:24:02It's his ability to protect the pain
00:24:04and protect the rim for this team
00:24:06and rebound the basketball.
00:24:07And so, he got his hands cut out for him.
00:24:10Nuggets have started two of 11.
00:24:12Yeah, the Nuggets are struggling on the offensive end.
00:24:14Obviously, a little short on the shots.
00:24:16I'd love to see them get Jokic going in here a little bit.
00:24:20Didn't take a shot in the first four minutes of the game.
00:24:23Reid couldn't get it,
00:24:24but retrieved by Gobert.
00:24:26Wolves reset.
00:24:28Shot clock at six.
00:24:29Edwards tries.
00:24:31Blaze it up for two.
00:24:33You got that bounce, Candace.
00:24:36Foul as he took it inside,
00:24:38and now Minnesota's got their biggest lead.
00:24:40And obviously, the entire league knows
00:24:42if you let Ant go right,
00:24:44you're in for a long night.
00:24:45Forcing left downhill.
00:24:47But right here,
00:24:48him turning on the burner,
00:24:50showing, like,
00:24:51that knee looks pretty good early.
00:24:54Gordon picked up his second.
00:24:56Randall's on the Minnesota bench with two.
00:25:00DiVincenzo has checked out.
00:25:02Io Dosumu has checked in.
00:25:07The Super Bowl's in a pretty important player
00:25:09for the Wolves in this series.
00:25:11Yes, Io definitely comes in,
00:25:12changes the pace,
00:25:13and we're going to see this pick and roll right here.
00:25:16Murray Jokic.
00:25:18Early Denver,
00:25:19a little short.
00:25:20Sometimes when you're on a 12-game win streak,
00:25:22you don't want the season to stop.
00:25:23You want to roll right into the playoffs.
00:25:25Denver has some rest.
00:25:26We were talking to Ali earlier,
00:25:28and she was saying that
00:25:29Jokic did not want the season to end
00:25:32and take that much time off.
00:25:33They had six days in between this game,
00:25:35and Jokic was mad about that
00:25:36because he knew this team was already in the flow.
00:25:39They were already in the rhythm,
00:25:40and you know what happens when you take time off.
00:25:42You get rusty.
00:25:42And it's been such a weird year for the Nuggets.
00:25:45Began well,
00:25:45then all the injuries piled up,
00:25:47and then they finished strong,
00:25:48as we know.
00:25:49Yes, they finished strong.
00:25:50Obviously, we're looking at the 12-0 finish,
00:25:53but they finished 17-4,
00:25:55and they played the toughest remaining schedule
00:25:57with 20 games left.
00:25:59You talk about OKC twice.
00:26:00You talk about San Antonio three times,
00:26:02and so they were able to have proof in the pudding
00:26:05that they could contend,
00:26:07and Coach Edelman said he believes this is a year
00:26:09that all six teams that are top in the West
00:26:12could possibly win a championship.
00:26:14Now, we can all see Jokic
00:26:15had stuck it up his nose with that gauze.
00:26:17Now, it's out, so he's going to...
00:26:19But he got hit on the play,
00:26:21and some full-court pressure here by Minnesota.
00:26:23They're in a 9-0 run right now.
00:26:27It's Marnie.
00:26:29He's gone 0-2.
00:26:32Jokic on top, but three over Gobert.
00:26:41But Kevin, they say let sleeping dogs lie,
00:26:44and they shouldn't hit him in the nose
00:26:45because he's walking out.
00:26:46That's exactly right into Gobert
00:26:48with a jam, and Gordon was there,
00:26:50but he's got to be careful with the two fouls.
00:26:52And I think he was a little late on that rotation
00:26:54because he was scared to pick up that third foul.
00:26:58The driving and pounding of Jokic.
00:27:03Gobert is there with another steal.
00:27:05His second.
00:27:06Basumu.
00:27:06Lead.
00:27:07Hammers it home.
00:27:12And let's give credit where credit is due
00:27:14to Rudy Gobert.
00:27:15You talk about a guy that is going to be,
00:27:19I'm going to say it ahead of time,
00:27:21a ninth time on the all-defensive team.
00:27:23He is one of the best defenders that this league has had.
00:27:27He's taken this matchup straight up
00:27:29against one of the best players we've ever seen in this league.
00:27:32McKinnis, it's just attention to detail.
00:27:34Understanding when Jokic is on that left block,
00:27:37he wants to come to the middle.
00:27:38And so he did not give up as Brown hit the three.
00:27:41He did not give up the middle at all,
00:27:43and that allowed him to be in position to get the steal.
00:27:46Kirsten Brown's a 30% three-point shooter,
00:27:49but he put one in there.
00:27:49Yeah, so sometimes when you're in the corner,
00:27:53obviously statistically, analytically, it goes up.
00:27:56But this team, 39% on the year,
00:27:58lead the league in three-point percentage.
00:28:02Kirsten Brown's off.
00:28:03Jokic loving in Brown cut.
00:28:07What a pass.
00:28:08And that is a hard pass to make.
00:28:10That's a tough pass, but not for Jokic.
00:28:12That's what he does.
00:28:12I mean, the average two, eight points a game,
00:28:15but scoring is secondary.
00:28:17His assistant, his ability to pass is primary.
00:28:19Reed got the shot with a nice move around,
00:28:22but couldn't complete it.
00:28:24Brown the other way.
00:28:25A nest of Minnesota defenders there.
00:28:28Hardaway picks up.
00:28:29Can't get the mid-range shot.
00:28:30In Minnesota, if you're Minnesota right now,
00:28:32you've got to settle,
00:28:33you've got to steady the ship,
00:28:34and you've got to get a good shot on goal here.
00:28:37You've got to keep Denver at a transition.
00:28:40Murray was defending McDaniels.
00:28:43It's Jokic.
00:28:45This is when they're at their best.
00:28:46Oh, Hardaway!
00:28:48This is when they're at their best, D-Wade.
00:28:52You talk about point forward.
00:28:57It's a 7-0 run by the Denver Nuggets.
00:29:01Go, Bam.
00:29:02Reed.
00:29:03Dosubo.
00:29:04Three.
00:29:05Book it!
00:29:09He was an All-American in Illinois.
00:29:11They got him in a trade from Chicago midseason.
00:29:14Brown again.
00:29:14Another three launched.
00:29:16That's a rebound by Reed.
00:29:17But normally with Star got the hard players,
00:29:20they normally score in certain areas,
00:29:21and so you can game plan for that.
00:29:23You cannot game plan for Jokic
00:29:25because you don't know what he's going to do,
00:29:27when he's going to do it.
00:29:28He scores from everywhere.
00:29:29Makes impact everywhere.
00:29:32The ball rotation by the Wolves.
00:29:34The shot clock at five.
00:29:36The twirling Reed.
00:29:37He's pickpocketed by Jokic.
00:29:38Numbers the other way.
00:29:40Hardaway!
00:29:41Oh, rejected!
00:29:42What a great rejection by Edwards!
00:29:44And then a foul on Minnesota.
00:29:53Right here, Jokic gets hit in the face
00:29:55on an Anthony Edwards and one.
00:29:58Ever since the Joker came alive,
00:30:01knocked down a three,
00:30:02got a couple of highlight reels,
00:30:05threw a no-look assist.
00:30:07Right here to Hardaway
00:30:09for the monster jam.
00:30:11I mean, that's just the impact that Jokic has
00:30:13when he has the ball in his hands.
00:30:14And Oz Reed picked up his first for Minnesota.
00:30:17How fun is it, Candace,
00:30:18when you know you have a guy
00:30:19that is looking for you
00:30:21in transition on a half court,
00:30:23you always make sure you stay ready.
00:30:25And that's what they're doing right now.
00:30:26When Jokic has the ball,
00:30:27these guys are running to their spots.
00:30:29They're not jogging.
00:30:30They're ready and they're prepared for their moment.
00:30:32And that's why they got back in this game.
00:30:34A lot of substitutions here coming in
00:30:35for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
00:30:37Bones Highland has come in.
00:30:38Dosumu remains.
00:30:39Mike Conley is in the game.
00:30:41Reed stays on the floor
00:30:43for the Timberwolves.
00:30:45And they've also had Kyle Anderson
00:30:47out there for Minnesota.
00:30:52It's Conley.
00:30:54A lot of experience.
00:30:58But no longer starting.
00:31:00Dosumu three.
00:31:01With a rebound by Jokic.
00:31:03Conley's in the game
00:31:04because this team needs to be settled right now.
00:31:07Listen, they're on the road
00:31:08in an incredible environment
00:31:10to play this game of basketball.
00:31:11And it gets loud.
00:31:12And so he's in to settle this team.
00:31:15That's a foul.
00:31:16It's on Gordon.
00:31:17He has number three.
00:31:18And that is a gigantic story.
00:31:26And it looks like
00:31:28Coach Adelman just got teed up
00:31:30when he's trying to call a timeout
00:31:32to get a review,
00:31:33he's arguing.
00:31:42Right here, Aaron Gordon
00:31:44in the post
00:31:44against a smaller Conley
00:31:46swings through
00:31:47above the shoulders.
00:31:49And Conley
00:31:51positioned himself well
00:31:52to perhaps
00:31:53make it look like
00:31:54it was harder than it was.
00:31:56Look at that.
00:31:57He's smart, Kevin.
00:31:58He's very smart.
00:32:01Offensive foul against Gordon
00:32:02is being challenged
00:32:03by Denver.
00:32:06And I think if you're Denver,
00:32:07you gotta challenge this.
00:32:09A.G.
00:32:09picking up his third foul
00:32:11in the first quarter.
00:32:15David Adelman is really
00:32:17lobbying for his star,
00:32:19Aaron Gordon.
00:32:20They need him so much
00:32:21in this series.
00:32:22We gotta time.
00:32:23They're taking a look at it.
00:32:25A challenge.
00:32:25An offensive foul
00:32:26on their Aaron Gordon.
00:32:28An indispensable play.
00:32:30player on their team.
00:32:31If it is charged against him,
00:32:33it'll be his third.
00:32:34We're not out of
00:32:35the first quarter yet.
00:32:38After a review,
00:32:39it's been deemed Conley
00:32:40is in a legal guarding
00:32:41position and Gordon turns
00:32:42illegally into him,
00:32:43dislodging him from his space.
00:32:45Ruling on the floor,
00:32:46stands as an offensive foul.
00:32:48Again, the craftiness
00:32:49of Conley
00:32:50to be in that kind of position.
00:32:52Yeah, I mean, Mike Conley,
00:32:54he's in here to settle things,
00:32:55but also, too,
00:32:56the little things matter.
00:32:57He has so much
00:32:58playoff experience,
00:32:59and it's just about
00:33:00getting yourself in position.
00:33:02He understands he's not
00:33:03going to block the shot,
00:33:04but he gets in position
00:33:05because he knows
00:33:05the scum report.
00:33:07Yes, we call that.
00:33:09If you're little,
00:33:10you gotta beat the big
00:33:11to the spot.
00:33:12Doing a great job
00:33:13moving his feet,
00:33:14getting in the way.
00:33:14Now, my question is,
00:33:16we understand the importance
00:33:17of AG to this Denver Nuggets team.
00:33:21They have played without him.
00:33:22They've played good basketball
00:33:23without him as well,
00:33:24and they have to find
00:33:25someone else to step up
00:33:27and do what he does
00:33:28on both ends of the court.
00:33:29So now Denver has
00:33:31four bench players
00:33:32on the floor with Jokic.
00:33:34Bruce Brown and Spencer Jones
00:33:36have checked in,
00:33:37and the Timberwolves,
00:33:39in terms of their starters,
00:33:40not one is out there.
00:33:41It's an all-bench group
00:33:43right now.
00:33:45With 1.32 to go
00:33:47in the first,
00:33:48Denver has gone
00:33:506 of 20.
00:33:51Minnesota has gone
00:33:5211 of 20.
00:33:54The three's about equal.
00:33:58Rebounding tied at 12.
00:34:00Bones Highland.
00:34:02Nas Reed,
00:34:04a former six-man award winner
00:34:05in the NBA.
00:34:07Shot clock at three.
00:34:08Highland,
00:34:09a former Denver Nugget
00:34:10at three.
00:34:12Rebound Jokic.
00:34:13And that right there
00:34:14is a great defensive
00:34:15possession by the Nuggets,
00:34:17not allowing Reed
00:34:18to take advantage
00:34:18of the mismatch
00:34:20on the block.
00:34:21It's another turnover.
00:34:23Conley got it.
00:34:24Dosubo at the other end.
00:34:26Conley making things happen.
00:34:28As a veteran,
00:34:29that's why
00:34:29they wanted him back
00:34:31for moments like this.
00:34:33When things are going
00:34:34a little astray,
00:34:35you need a guy
00:34:36that can come in
00:34:36and settle everything
00:34:37and do the things
00:34:38that you know
00:34:39wins ballgames.
00:34:40Hardaway three.
00:34:41No.
00:34:42Tipped up inside.
00:34:43It's picked up
00:34:44by the Timberwolves
00:34:45and here they come.
00:34:46Final half minute
00:34:47of the first quarter.
00:34:49They've won by
00:34:49as many as 12.
00:34:52Highland picking
00:34:53and poking his way.
00:34:57And the shot clocked again
00:34:59wound down to five
00:35:00with Reed in a series
00:35:01of moves
00:35:02and working in on Johnson.
00:35:07Bruce Brown with the ball.
00:35:10And the final
00:35:12ten seconds
00:35:13of the first.
00:35:20Jokic has won a two.
00:35:22They go inside.
00:35:23Brown couldn't get it.
00:35:24Conley leaping up
00:35:25for the rebound.
00:35:26And that pretty much
00:35:27went about as well
00:35:28as it could have
00:35:29for the Timberwolves
00:35:29on the road.
00:35:32It's a ten-point
00:35:33Minnesota lead.
00:35:34It's game one.
00:35:35Best of seven.
00:35:36You're watching
00:35:36the NBA playoffs
00:35:38presented by Google
00:35:39on Prime.
00:35:40You're watching
00:35:42first-round coverage
00:35:44on Prime
00:35:45presented by
00:35:46Lilly.
00:35:48It's the Wolves
00:35:48by ten.
00:35:49They've led by twelve.
00:35:50And one of the big
00:35:51developing scores
00:35:52for the Denver Nuggets,
00:35:55Aaron Gordon
00:35:55has got three
00:35:56early fouls
00:35:58in this one.
00:36:00Yeah, well,
00:36:01you know,
00:36:01we keep talking about
00:36:02the importance of him
00:36:02and you can see it
00:36:03when Coach Alderman
00:36:04jumped off the bench
00:36:05and took that technical foul.
00:36:06That's how important
00:36:07that player is for him
00:36:08and also, too,
00:36:09he don't want to lose
00:36:10Aaron Gordon,
00:36:11so he wanted to show
00:36:11that fight for him
00:36:12as somebody they're
00:36:13going to need
00:36:13to come back
00:36:14and help them
00:36:15win this ballgame.
00:36:16It's Brown on top
00:36:17over Highland for three
00:36:18and Allie Clifton,
00:36:19I guess it was
00:36:20a pretty spirited
00:36:21Denver huddle
00:36:22moments ago.
00:36:24I will just
00:36:24taking off of that
00:36:25from Dwayne Wade
00:36:26regarding Aaron Gordon,
00:36:27just echoing
00:36:28those sentiments.
00:36:29He's the guy
00:36:29that knows
00:36:30how much familiarity
00:36:31lies between
00:36:32these two teams.
00:36:33He says,
00:36:33we can talk X's and O's
00:36:34all we want,
00:36:34but bottom line,
00:36:35we just have to settle
00:36:36in and be us, guys.
00:36:39Deflected out of bounds.
00:36:40Allie, thank you.
00:36:41Denver, six field goals
00:36:43and six turnovers.
00:36:44That's the way
00:36:45they've started.
00:36:45They haven't scored
00:36:47from the field
00:36:47in the last three minutes.
00:36:49They're taking a lot
00:36:50of threes.
00:36:50Jokic is now resting
00:36:51on the bench.
00:36:52Yeah, so you understand
00:36:53the firepower of the Nuggets.
00:36:54They have two of the
00:36:55best scorers in the game,
00:36:57but where they are successful
00:36:58is when they get
00:36:59timely stops
00:37:00on the defensive end
00:37:01and they're able to play
00:37:02in free throw
00:37:03in transition.
00:37:07Valanchunas is out
00:37:08there for the first time.
00:37:09Hardaway trying to get
00:37:10away from the pesky
00:37:11dosu moon.
00:37:11He has put his
00:37:13fingerprints on this
00:37:14one early.
00:37:15Yeah, he's done
00:37:16a great job all year.
00:37:17I think just coming
00:37:18into himself,
00:37:18finding his role
00:37:19on his team,
00:37:20obviously on the
00:37:21offensive end of the
00:37:21floor, but defensively
00:37:23he's a guy that can
00:37:24do all things.
00:37:25Coach lit up when
00:37:26he talked about him
00:37:27and what he can bring
00:37:28to this team and what
00:37:28they're going to need
00:37:29from him.
00:37:30Jokic and Valanchunas
00:37:31have combined for four
00:37:33turnovers of the seven
00:37:34out of Denver.
00:37:34The three is down
00:37:36the edge.
00:37:36A beautiful triple
00:37:37put up by Reed.
00:37:39And Nas Reed
00:37:40knocking it down
00:37:42from beyond the arc.
00:37:43He is taking his
00:37:44bench role seriously.
00:37:46Finishes a lot of
00:37:46games, but really
00:37:47ignites this team
00:37:48on the offensive end.
00:37:51With a whistle
00:37:52and 10.41 to go
00:37:53in the first half.
00:37:55Nas Reed right here,
00:37:56great Gobert screen
00:37:58comes off.
00:37:59It's free.
00:37:59Valanchunas up
00:38:01pressure in the ball
00:38:02allows Reed to set
00:38:03his feet and knock
00:38:04it down.
00:38:05Go Sumo picks up
00:38:06his first.
00:38:08Good feed.
00:38:09Back outside.
00:38:11Hardaway three.
00:38:13Nice ball rotation.
00:38:14Denver got the shot
00:38:15they wanted.
00:38:15Well, we talked to
00:38:16Timmy, we talked to
00:38:17Timmy Senior before
00:38:18the game and he said
00:38:19his son was ready.
00:38:20He's had an incredible
00:38:21year this year with
00:38:22Denver.
00:38:22He's found a home
00:38:23and he looks good
00:38:24for this team.
00:38:28Another turnover.
00:38:34Brown, who's played
00:38:35for a lot of teams
00:38:36in this league,
00:38:37sets up from 16.
00:38:39Gobert the rebound.
00:38:40Conley the other way.
00:38:42Conley in his 20th season.
00:38:45Reed attacking.
00:38:46Saw the mismatch.
00:38:47He wanted to go right
00:38:48at Bruce Brown.
00:38:49Did and foul on Denver.
00:38:51Well, Tim Hardaway,
00:38:52I believe he understands
00:38:53his role on his team.
00:38:55You see, when he get a
00:38:56chance, he gets out
00:38:56on the open floor.
00:38:57He understands spacing
00:38:58on his team, but his job
00:39:00is to come in and shoot
00:39:01that ball and knock
00:39:02down shots for them.
00:39:07Timberwolves facing
00:39:08the Nuggets for the
00:39:10third time in the last
00:39:12four years in the playoffs.
00:39:14They played 28 times
00:39:16regular season in post.
00:39:1814 wins apiece.
00:39:19And the number of
00:39:20statistics, almost identical.
00:39:22That's right.
00:39:23Can't get it.
00:39:24And then it finally
00:39:25will drop inside.
00:39:27Gobert with the tip.
00:39:28He's got four.
00:39:29And Bones Highland
00:39:30putting his defender
00:39:31on skates, getting
00:39:31into the rack.
00:39:32But when you draw big
00:39:34to come over and help,
00:39:35at least Gobert
00:39:36to clean it up.
00:39:40Here's Murray
00:39:41working through traffic,
00:39:42facing Conley
00:39:43in the fadeaway.
00:39:47A career-high 25 points
00:39:49this season
00:39:49for Jamal Murray.
00:39:50Well, I just love
00:39:51watching Murray run
00:39:52pick-and-rolls.
00:39:53Just his patience
00:39:54and understanding
00:39:55to know that he can get
00:39:56a shot off it
00:39:57any time he wants.
00:39:58It's just about
00:39:58getting to his spot
00:40:00and raising up his shoe.
00:40:01Just one of the best
00:40:02in the pick-and-roll
00:40:02in our league.
00:40:03Conley to Gobert
00:40:05over Valanciunas
00:40:06who grabs the missed shot.
00:40:08So Murray just hit
00:40:09his first field goal
00:40:10moments ago
00:40:10and he's got the ball
00:40:11on his hand.
00:40:12Yes, and these are
00:40:13Murray minutes, right?
00:40:14Jokic is on the bench.
00:40:15They're going to need
00:40:16Murray to really initiate
00:40:18the offense
00:40:18and settle this team.
00:40:21Draw mismatches.
00:40:22You talk about
00:40:22disadvantaged creators.
00:40:24Murray, three, no.
00:40:26Rebound, Brown.
00:40:27Yes.
00:40:28Down.
00:40:39Foul inside
00:40:40on that shot.
00:40:43Jamal Murray.
00:40:44You understand
00:40:45his ability to play
00:40:46at his own pace.
00:40:48Don't let him get
00:40:49to that mid-range
00:40:50right shoulder
00:40:50and then it's the others.
00:40:51It's the hustle plays.
00:40:52It's the extra efforts.
00:40:54It's the second chance
00:40:54points that decide
00:40:56ballgames.
00:40:57Not only did Denver
00:40:58miss Bruce Brown
00:41:00but Bruce Brown
00:41:01missed Denver as well
00:41:02and so it's so good
00:41:03to see him back
00:41:03and making an impact
00:41:04like he did a few years
00:41:05ago on a championship run.
00:41:07Bones Island
00:41:08picked up his first foul.
00:41:09Julius Randle back
00:41:10in the game.
00:41:11Two early fouls
00:41:13on the Minnesota forward.
00:41:15Conner.
00:41:16Pimpant pass.
00:41:17Gobert.
00:41:17Finish.
00:41:18Foul.
00:41:18Conner.
00:41:19And I know
00:41:20we're giving
00:41:21Gobert credit
00:41:22on the defensive end
00:41:23but his activity
00:41:24on the offensive end
00:41:26we cannot overlook.
00:41:27Efficient
00:41:28leads the NBA
00:41:29in field goal percentage.
00:41:30He's doing a good job
00:41:31playing out of the pocket
00:41:32under control
00:41:33and finishing
00:41:34around the rim.
00:41:39Valanciunas
00:41:40picked up number one.
00:41:41Rudy Gobert
00:41:42is at the line.
00:41:43Minnesota as a team
00:41:47is 29th
00:41:48in free throw percentage
00:41:49as evidenced right there
00:41:51and Gobert
00:41:51one of the reasons
00:41:52why he gets to the line
00:41:55and they attempt
00:41:56the seventh most free throws.
00:41:58Murray.
00:41:58He's got another one.
00:42:00He's got two
00:42:01in the early stages
00:42:02from the floor
00:42:04in the second quarter.
00:42:08So Murray's got seven
00:42:10to lead the Nuggets.
00:42:12Three.
00:42:13Good!
00:42:14Dosumu!
00:42:16Back and forth.
00:42:17Back and forth.
00:42:18Dosumu obviously
00:42:19drawing the assignment
00:42:20defending Murray
00:42:21but right back at you.
00:42:23You can see
00:42:24the confidence
00:42:25in these guys.
00:42:26They played a lot of minutes
00:42:27without Ant on the floor
00:42:28and you can see
00:42:28that confidence
00:42:29in them right now.
00:42:30Murray working on
00:42:31Conley
00:42:31and fouled
00:42:33as he fired
00:42:33with 7.43 to go
00:42:35in the first half.
00:42:37Conley number one.
00:42:39Well, Kat,
00:42:39as you and I
00:42:39continue to talk about it,
00:42:41just his patience,
00:42:41his understanding
00:42:42that he can get to
00:42:43anywhere he wants
00:42:43with his spots
00:42:44and then his ability
00:42:45just to make the shot.
00:42:47And then Ayo
00:42:48on this end
00:42:49acquired at the trade
00:42:50deadline,
00:42:51first playoff
00:42:52since Bulls
00:42:53his rookie year.
00:42:54He looks good early.
00:42:55David Edelman
00:42:56told us guys
00:42:57that Jamal Murray
00:42:58had a great
00:42:59mental season.
00:43:00Candice,
00:43:01what does that mean?
00:43:02Well,
00:43:03having a great
00:43:03mental season
00:43:04means that you know
00:43:05that you've prepared
00:43:06coming in.
00:43:07You put in the work.
00:43:09You've built
00:43:10the relationships.
00:43:10You've been the leader
00:43:11and you come in
00:43:12in a great space
00:43:13and I think your game
00:43:14follows that.
00:43:15I agree.
00:43:16And also, too,
00:43:16it also means that
00:43:17everything in your
00:43:18personal life
00:43:19has fallen in place
00:43:20as well.
00:43:20There's a lot of
00:43:21things that goes on
00:43:22behind the scenes
00:43:23that no one sees
00:43:24in the arena.
00:43:25But he said
00:43:26when his daughter's
00:43:26around,
00:43:26he's just smiling.
00:43:28He's just in a great
00:43:28place.
00:43:29And so,
00:43:29his personal life
00:43:30matches everything
00:43:31that's going on
00:43:32on the court.
00:43:32And now we have shown
00:43:33he's had a career year.
00:43:35Absolutely.
00:43:36Just to add to that,
00:43:37Edelman said this summer
00:43:38he was at his best
00:43:38balancing everything
00:43:39mentally and physically.
00:43:40Not only did he do
00:43:41the necessary to keep
00:43:42in shape,
00:43:42but he was present.
00:43:44He said that's a lost
00:43:45art.
00:43:45Edelman added the dinners,
00:43:47planning team dinners.
00:43:48He did it all on his own.
00:43:49Jamal did.
00:43:49It mattered to him
00:43:50and when you combine
00:43:51that balance on and
00:43:52off the floor,
00:43:53all of that collectively
00:43:54goes a long way
00:43:55and it's what we've
00:43:55seen from Jamal from
00:43:56start to finish in
00:43:57this all-star season,
00:43:58guys.
00:43:58Murray's got it right
00:43:59now.
00:44:00He has scored nine.
00:44:00He leads the Nuggets.
00:44:02He's going up against
00:44:04the newly instated
00:44:05DiVincenzo.
00:44:06Dancing,
00:44:06driving,
00:44:07throwing it up
00:44:08and a foul.
00:44:09So he is moving
00:44:10with every part of
00:44:11his body to get
00:44:12free.
00:44:13The gambling wolves
00:44:14and again he's going
00:44:15to go to the line,
00:44:16Murray.
00:44:17Yes,
00:44:17Murray just taking
00:44:18it into his own
00:44:20hands and these are
00:44:21the non-Jokic minutes.
00:44:23So you understand
00:44:23that he's going to be
00:44:24featured.
00:44:25He's going to look
00:44:26and call his own
00:44:27number but he also
00:44:28is a threat in getting
00:44:29his other teammates
00:44:30involved as,
00:44:31again,
00:44:32the Nuggets shoot
00:44:3340% from deep.
00:44:36Murray right there
00:44:36to look at the
00:44:37upcoming playoff
00:44:38schedule.
00:44:39Coming up next on
00:44:40Prime,
00:44:40the third of our
00:44:41three today in this
00:44:42triple header,
00:44:43Hawks and Knicks.
00:44:44Then ABC tonight,
00:44:46Houston will be at
00:44:47the Lakers.
00:44:48ABC tomorrow in
00:44:49Boston,
00:44:50the Celtics will host
00:44:51the 76ers and the
00:44:53Suns after beating
00:44:55Golden State last
00:44:56night in the final
00:44:57play-in game.
00:44:58Game one against the
00:44:59defending champion,
00:45:01Oklahoma City Thunder.
00:45:02NBC tomorrow,
00:45:03Orlando,
00:45:04Detroit,
00:45:05Portland,
00:45:05San Antonio.
00:45:06And for more on
00:45:07these games,
00:45:08go to NBA.com or
00:45:09visit the NBA app.
00:45:11Denver from the
00:45:12free-throw line,
00:45:13and a terrific
00:45:13shooting team as we
00:45:14told you.
00:45:1513 of 14 so far.
00:45:17Edwards back in the
00:45:18game.
00:45:19Reed is down low.
00:45:20Three from Ant.
00:45:21No.
00:45:22Tipped.
00:45:22Out of bounds.
00:45:24It will be
00:45:24Minnesota's ball,
00:45:25at least the initial
00:45:27look at it was,
00:45:28what the officials
00:45:29saw.
00:45:33And they change it.
00:45:35It's Denver's ball.
00:45:38Referees need a little
00:45:39teammates too.
00:45:40They need teammates to
00:45:41come in and help
00:45:42them out.
00:45:43There's a timeout on
00:45:45the floor.
00:45:45We're in the second
00:45:46quarter.
00:45:47The Wolves by three.
00:45:48You're watching the NBA
00:45:49playoffs presented by
00:45:51Google.
00:45:54Well,
00:45:55one of our concerns
00:45:56today going into this
00:45:57one is Anthony Edwards
00:45:59because he's been
00:46:00battling knee problems
00:46:01late in the season.
00:46:02What have you seen so
00:46:03far?
00:46:04Well,
00:46:05we watched him make
00:46:06his first shot of this
00:46:07game,
00:46:07and once he made that
00:46:08first shot,
00:46:09Candace,
00:46:09we watched him get
00:46:11that bounce in his
00:46:12step,
00:46:12and he was able to do
00:46:13everything that
00:46:14the Anthers do.
00:46:16He missed 11,
00:46:17Candace,
00:46:17of the last 14 games
00:46:19in the regular season.
00:46:20Well,
00:46:20my first assessment,
00:46:2210 minutes in,
00:46:22obviously,
00:46:23rotation minutes a
00:46:24little bit different.
00:46:25Normally plays the
00:46:26whole first quarter.
00:46:27Today came out a little
00:46:27bit two minutes early,
00:46:29so we'll see how that
00:46:31impacts him later in the
00:46:32game.
00:46:32He just landed again
00:46:33after that leaping
00:46:34rebound and grimaced as
00:46:35he was crunching onto
00:46:37the ball.
00:46:39So Murray has eight of
00:46:41the last 11 points for
00:46:42Denver.
00:46:42Here comes Edward
00:46:43trying to yoke it.
00:46:44You got off the bench
00:46:45with an offhand layup
00:46:46and a Minnesota lead
00:46:47of five.
00:46:49To be hobbled and to
00:46:50be able to explode that
00:46:51quickly, D-Wade,
00:46:52that is ridiculous.
00:46:54I was about to say,
00:46:55Candace,
00:46:56as Brown goes to the
00:46:56basket,
00:46:57I think it's important
00:46:58to point out that the
00:46:59knee injury that he's
00:47:00possibly dealing with is
00:47:01something that kind of
00:47:01lays doormat.
00:47:02It's not always on there.
00:47:04It's kind of come and go,
00:47:05and you can see it in
00:47:06moments where he feels
00:47:06explosive that the injury
00:47:08is not affecting it.
00:47:09I want to hit you on
00:47:10that point.
00:47:10Hardaway just picked up
00:47:11the foul.
00:47:12Is it like Curry's,
00:47:13like the runner's knee
00:47:14that they've been
00:47:14talking about?
00:47:15I think it's a lot of
00:47:16different varieties of
00:47:17it.
00:47:17I had some called
00:47:18chondromalacia and it
00:47:19kind of laid under the
00:47:20kneecap and it just
00:47:21stayed there and it
00:47:22just affected me a lot.
00:47:23But also, too,
00:47:24it was moments where
00:47:25you did not feel it.
00:47:26If you kept it loose,
00:47:27you kept your muscles
00:47:28around it strong,
00:47:29you could still have
00:47:30those moments of
00:47:30explosion.
00:47:31Hardaway picked up
00:47:32the foul.
00:47:33Randall is at the
00:47:34line.
00:47:34Meanwhile, 18 minutes
00:47:36into the game, and
00:47:38Nikola Jokic has more
00:47:40turnovers, four, than
00:47:42he has points, three.
00:47:44Well, we asked Coach
00:47:45Finch before the game,
00:47:46how do you defend
00:47:48Jokic?
00:47:48And he said, well, you
00:47:50just win.
00:47:51They've won when he's
00:47:52had a 60-point triple
00:47:53double.
00:47:54They've won when he has
00:47:56scored 15 points.
00:47:57Obviously, early on,
00:47:59they're doing a great
00:48:00job on Jokic, but he
00:48:01doesn't lay dormant for
00:48:02very long.
00:48:06Cam Johnson, Edwards
00:48:08there.
00:48:10Jokic with the screen,
00:48:11the switch with three,
00:48:12the try for the rack.
00:48:14I love Cam Johnson's
00:48:16aggressiveness early.
00:48:19He was brought here to
00:48:20fill a big role with
00:48:22Michael Porter Jr.
00:48:23leaving.
00:48:23Cody knocked down three,
00:48:24struggled with his shot
00:48:25early, but has found his
00:48:27rhythm here in this
00:48:28first half.
00:48:29Minnesota in the second
00:48:30quarter has gone 5-10 from
00:48:32the floor.
00:48:33Randall, three.
00:48:34Rebound Brown.
00:48:36Minnesota.
00:48:36That's a fourth rebound for
00:48:38Brown.
00:48:39Minnesota for the game,
00:48:4050%.
00:48:41And from the floor,
00:48:4337% for Denver.
00:48:44And Cam Johnson,
00:48:46bearings a three.
00:48:47Well, this is the Cam Johnson
00:48:49that everyone wanted and
00:48:50expected when he first got
00:48:51here, but with Aaron Gordon
00:48:52out right now, Cam Johnson,
00:48:54Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway,
00:48:56Jr., they're all stepping up
00:48:57in this moment with one of the
00:48:58main guys out.
00:49:00And Denver is leaving
00:49:03Randall from beyond the arc.
00:49:05Paying attention, obviously,
00:49:07to Anthony Edwards on the
00:49:08backside, but I think Randall's
00:49:09going to have to knock down
00:49:10some threes, not off the
00:49:12dribble, but catch and shoot
00:49:14to loosen up the defensive
00:49:17defense.
00:49:18Yoko to Randall.
00:49:20Hardaway and Edwards.
00:49:22Hardaway.
00:49:22Brown.
00:49:23Corner.
00:49:24Three.
00:49:25No.
00:49:27The miss by Spencer Jones.
00:49:31There's a whistle.
00:49:334-41 to go.
00:49:35Reed has picked up the foul.
00:49:36Nas Reed has picked up
00:49:38number two.
00:49:43Nas Reed right here.
00:49:44Late foul call.
00:49:49Contesting after the shot
00:49:50with contact to the shooting
00:49:52hand.
00:49:53They allow a high five.
00:49:55They don't allow you to come
00:49:57across the arm.
00:49:58They try to do that.
00:49:59Spencer's just got to like a
00:50:00kind of an unorthodox kind of
00:50:02form, and so he thought he was
00:50:03going off to the side, but his
00:50:04finish of his shot is off to
00:50:06the side, so that's a mistake
00:50:08foul.
00:50:09Let's take a look at the live
00:50:10update presented by FanDuel.
00:50:13With Jones at the line, three
00:50:15free throws, and the numbers
00:50:18right now.
00:50:19Spencer Jones is out of
00:50:20Stanford.
00:50:22And they converted his two-way
00:50:24contract to a standard contract
00:50:26in mid-February.
00:50:28He's been dealing with the hamstring.
00:50:31And Denver's on a 7-0 run.
00:50:34And is this a good sign for Denver
00:50:36considering Jokic has four points
00:50:38in this game where you are still
00:50:40tied with Minnesota with your
00:50:42superstar not having his best
00:50:44shoulder.
00:50:45Edwards.
00:50:46Brown defends.
00:50:48Christian Brown trying to corral
00:50:50Edwards.
00:50:51A foul.
00:50:54That's tough, man.
00:50:57That is a full day's work trying
00:50:59to defend Edwards.
00:51:02So many counters, so many moves.
00:51:05There's nothing you can do, but
00:51:07you're trying to do everything
00:51:07possible right there.
00:51:09Just even give me a little jersey
00:51:10too, so you can't get off.
00:51:13Brown picks up number one.
00:51:18I believe the playoffs are called
00:51:20a little different in the paint
00:51:22on the perimeter when there's
00:51:24contact.
00:51:24But if you're fouling jump
00:51:26shooters, that's a foul in the
00:51:28regular season and that's a foul
00:51:29in the playoffs.
00:51:31Edwards there.
00:51:33Number three score.
00:51:35He averaged 29 points a game,
00:51:38Anthony Edwards did.
00:51:39That was a franchise record for a
00:51:41single season.
00:51:43Jokic.
00:51:49It's the first Denver lead since
00:51:524-3 in the opening seconds.
00:51:55Edwards slashing, driving.
00:51:57Are you kidding me?
00:51:58How far are you kidding me?
00:52:02Wow.
00:52:10He made the basket.
00:52:14Look at this change of speed.
00:52:15Split here.
00:52:16Look at this.
00:52:16Going up, switch hands, hangs in
00:52:19the air, and gets to the rim.
00:52:22He looks fine.
00:52:23He looks fine.
00:52:23He looks fine.
00:52:24He would be irritated every now
00:52:25and again when you get toward it
00:52:26like that.
00:52:28Jokic by DiVincenzo.
00:52:31Into Brown.
00:52:32And the other Brown can't get it.
00:52:34Christian had it low.
00:52:35Up top, Bruce.
00:52:37And they turn it over.
00:52:38Another Denver turnover in this game.
00:52:41Eight so far.
00:52:42Man, that's uncharacteristic for Denver
00:52:44who normally takes care of the basketball
00:52:47as Minnesota is thriving.
00:52:4811-4 points off turnovers.
00:52:51Huge point.
00:52:52Good step.
00:52:54Edwards.
00:52:56Face in traffic.
00:52:57Shot clock at 5.
00:52:59Edwards.
00:52:59The ball is getting stuck on one side of the court.
00:53:02Minnesota has to move the ball.
00:53:04DiVincenzo was in the corner wide open.
00:53:10Jokic, and they again bring out Gobert
00:53:13with the defense and approaching
00:53:14three to play in the second.
00:53:16Can he just throw that to himself?
00:53:17Harlem Goldrock is up in here.
00:53:20Bruce Brown, spring Gobert.
00:53:23It'll go on him.
00:53:24Brown drives.
00:53:26And out of bounds.
00:53:29Possession gone.
00:53:30Wolves by one.
00:53:31They've led by 12.
00:53:36There's a timeout on the floor
00:53:38and 2.55 to go.
00:53:40It's game one.
00:53:41The Timberwolves and Nuggets on prime.
00:53:46A key to this series
00:53:47is this matchup right here.
00:53:49Gobert at 7'1 against the Joker.
00:53:52And early on, Gobert being active,
00:53:54causing some problems
00:53:55for the Joker.
00:53:57Four turnovers
00:53:58because of his activity.
00:54:00But you know what?
00:54:01You can't keep someone like Joker
00:54:03who averages 35, 15, and 11
00:54:06against Minnesota this season
00:54:07down so long.
00:54:09Two or three from beyond the arc.
00:54:10He's knocking it down.
00:54:11He's doing a little bit of this.
00:54:12But like you said,
00:54:14he got going because he started
00:54:15getting others involved.
00:54:16And then the ball came to him.
00:54:18If you want to dive deeper into this
00:54:21or any NBA playoff topic,
00:54:23ask AI mode in Google search.
00:54:27So the Nuggets have nine turnovers.
00:54:30And as you said,
00:54:31Jokic has four of them.
00:54:33And Dwayne,
00:54:34the Nuggets have the third fewest turnovers
00:54:36a game in the NBA.
00:54:38But they turned it over a lot here
00:54:40to begin this one.
00:54:40Yeah, I'm not overly concerned
00:54:42if Jokic is the one
00:54:43turning the ball over.
00:54:44I mean, he's the one
00:54:44that's going to have the ball a lot.
00:54:45He knows how to make the right reads.
00:54:47But let's give credit to Rudy.
00:54:49Rudy is really, really active
00:54:51on the defensive end of the floor.
00:54:53And he's just switching up
00:54:54his coverage a little bit.
00:54:54And, you know,
00:54:55throwing Jokic off a little bit.
00:54:57Randle goes inside on Jones
00:54:59and gets it to go.
00:55:02And that's a great sign.
00:55:04Minnesota needs Randle
00:55:06to get to the paint.
00:55:07Yes, catch and shoot
00:55:08can be a part of his game.
00:55:09But where he makes this offense better
00:55:11is doing things like that.
00:55:14Minnesota's got their starters out there.
00:55:16Jokic across the lane.
00:55:17It's a three from outside.
00:55:19And it goes right down.
00:55:20Spencer Jones puts it in.
00:55:22A 39% three-point shooter.
00:55:24See, I'm not worried about Jokic
00:55:26because he's going to make
00:55:27the right play more times than not.
00:55:29Every so often
00:55:30when you are a guy like that,
00:55:31you do force a few things
00:55:33and you make a few mistakes.
00:55:35Randle with the miss.
00:55:36He's gone two of seven
00:55:39with Jokic on top and Murray.
00:55:43Falling McManuals was right there.
00:55:46You know, Dwayne,
00:55:46you said something
00:55:47during the last break
00:55:48that was interesting
00:55:48and you said this
00:55:49to start the game too.
00:55:50Role players for both teams
00:55:53would be players
00:55:54you would watch
00:55:54with interest today.
00:55:55Well, especially at home, Kevin.
00:55:57You know, this game
00:55:58won at home right now.
00:55:59This crowd is pandemonium
00:56:02in here.
00:56:03And use that.
00:56:04Let's use that.
00:56:04Let's use the fact
00:56:05that you woke up
00:56:06in your own bed.
00:56:06The comforts
00:56:07to allow you to come out here
00:56:08and feel comfortable
00:56:09in this game.
00:56:10And so Jokic don't need
00:56:11to put on a big performance
00:56:12early because these guys
00:56:13have the confidence
00:56:15in this first game.
00:56:15McDaniels just picked up
00:56:17his second personal foul
00:56:19as the sumu
00:56:20checks back in
00:56:21for the Wolves.
00:56:22And it looked like
00:56:22Jamal Murray
00:56:23may have just slipped
00:56:25on that play.
00:56:26I thought so too.
00:56:27Upset at the foul call,
00:56:29but again,
00:56:29now Nugget's in the bonus.
00:56:33And Murray at the line,
00:56:35an 84% free throw shooter.
00:56:38I feel like Denver
00:56:39has been the aggressor
00:56:40on the offensive end,
00:56:41and it started with Aaron Gordon
00:56:43in early transition,
00:56:44just putting a lot
00:56:45of pressure on them.
00:56:46And so the refs
00:56:47is calling the game
00:56:48towards Denver's aggression.
00:56:50This right here,
00:56:51that play right there
00:56:53is full display
00:56:53of what McDaniels
00:56:55has grown into this year.
00:56:56They put Ant in the corner
00:56:57and McDaniels initiates
00:56:59the offense
00:56:59and serves as a playmaker.
00:57:01Murray got a great screen
00:57:02on top by Jokic
00:57:04and it lingered
00:57:04and he had the space to fire.
00:57:12It's McDaniels double.
00:57:14Dosimu's on top.
00:57:16Edwards on the wing.
00:57:17Points off turnovers
00:57:18have been huge.
00:57:21So far in this one,
00:57:22a drive, McDaniels,
00:57:24the reverse is down.
00:57:25What a block.
00:57:26And another evidence
00:57:27of growth for Minnesota.
00:57:29Ant sees two,
00:57:30gets off the ball.
00:57:31The ball finds McDaniels
00:57:33and he attacks the closeout.
00:57:34We talked about that
00:57:35being one of the most
00:57:36important keys
00:57:37for Anthony Edwards.
00:57:38What are you going to do
00:57:39when they put two on the ball?
00:57:40Are you going to stay on it
00:57:41or are you going to get off of it?
00:57:42That was a prime example
00:57:43right there
00:57:43and getting off of it.
00:57:44What a collision.
00:57:45It was Dosimu
00:57:46and Murray in time
00:57:49with 52 seconds
00:57:50to go on the first half.
00:57:52We sound like
00:57:52a broken record.
00:57:54McDaniels, growth.
00:57:55McDaniels, initiating,
00:57:57playmaking,
00:57:57all of those things.
00:57:58Rudy Gobert
00:57:59being active right here.
00:58:01Not settling for the three.
00:58:02Attacking the closeout,
00:58:04getting in there.
00:58:04And so that is
00:58:05what builds Ant's trust.
00:58:07When guys outside of you
00:58:08that are catching
00:58:09and making definitive plays,
00:58:11that helps the offense.
00:58:13Murray now has 13 points
00:58:15for Denver
00:58:16in this quarter.
00:58:18Today, the NBA on prime
00:58:20from the Rockies
00:58:22is brought to you by
00:58:25Lilly,
00:58:26a medicine company.
00:58:39Here comes Edwards.
00:58:45Gobert on the screen.
00:58:46Yoke on the line.
00:58:47Here goes the backpedaling three.
00:58:50Devin Chenzo
00:58:51right between the eyes.
00:58:53He's got three
00:58:53threes in the first half.
00:58:55And Dante,
00:58:56known for big games,
00:58:58came up big for Nova,
00:59:00did it for the Knicks,
00:59:02and he's doing it today.
00:59:03Well, you talked about
00:59:03against his first two shots
00:59:05to win in,
00:59:05so the rim is just open for him
00:59:07and that you just saw
00:59:07right there.
00:59:08He's got a broken play.
00:59:09Christian Brown
00:59:10on second three.
00:59:11Yes, Brown
00:59:13saw the ball go in early.
00:59:15Now knocks it down.
00:59:16You said it earlier,
00:59:17it only shoots 30%
00:59:18from beyond the arc.
00:59:20One of the few leads
00:59:21the Nuggets have had
00:59:22in the first half.
00:59:23Now by two,
00:59:24equaling their biggest.
00:59:25It's Gobert in stride.
00:59:27The Euros tap
00:59:28in the deuce.
00:59:29He's in his front.
00:59:31He is back.
00:59:33Gobert is down.
00:59:34Antonio gets the other way.
00:59:36Time to maneuver
00:59:37over Edwards.
00:59:38At the buzzer.
00:59:39And we are tied
00:59:41at 62.
00:59:43A terrific first half.
00:59:47As Denver outscored
00:59:49the Wolves
00:59:50by 10
00:59:52in the second quarter.
00:59:54Murray a 14-point
00:59:56second quarter
00:59:57for the Nuggets.
00:59:59Halftime come.
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