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00:09this is the NBA on NBC these are the 2026 NBA playoffs presented by Google tonight it's game
00:19two as the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Denver Nuggets brought to you by Kia
00:27and we welcome you into Denver Colorado mile high the passion and the intensity of the NBA playoffs
00:36reaches another level when you're talking about division rivals three postseason meetings in four
00:43years between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves and we welcome you inside ball arena
00:50alongside Austin Rivers Brian Scalabrini I'm Michael Brady Grant Liffman joins us as well game two
00:56Timberwolves Nuggets I'm gonna start with you scout from the Nuggets perspective they wrote their stars
01:01in game one to victory yeah unbelievable because we're talking about the Denver Nuggets all season
01:06long and where was their defense it's been atrocious at times but not in game one that's how they won
01:13that game they locked up Anthony Edwards corralled him made Minnesota play from the perimeter and
01:19Minnesota seemed a little bit lost yeah it's for Minnesota that Anthony Edwards didn't look like
01:23his normal assertive self in that game they came up short trying to bounce back tonight I think the key
01:28is them managing their emotions how steady can we be can we be a next play team you can't have
01:34the flows
01:35where you just go at a lull and just not play consistent efficient Minnesota basketball not first Denver
01:40because you know Denver's gonna get a good shot every possession with that guy Joker down there so can
01:45you be the right temperament can you be a next play team doing that will lead to better cleaner
01:50basketball played starting with Ant and Julius it'll trickle down let's get to tonight's starting
01:55lineups brought to you by DoorDash from Minnesota Dante DiVincenzo Anthony Edwards Jaden McDaniels
02:03Julius Randle Rudy Gobert they have the fewest different starting lineups in the NBA this season as for the
02:08Nuggets Jamal Murray Christian Brown Pam Johnson Aaron Gordon and the MVP finalist Nikola Jokic
02:18Scal you and Austin have both been a part of electric playoff atmospheres and as we take a look at
02:25the
02:25coaches just what what is the intensity like what are the emotions like moments before a big ball game
02:31I think it's really interesting this is interesting this is the 30th time that this team have met since
02:35January 1st 2023 they're really familiar with each other there's probably some some bad blood in there
02:41but we're gonna find out if there's some carryover are they gonna be cool calm collected like like the
02:48Denver Nuggets were are they gonna lose their cool and if they can if if the Denver Nuggets continue to
02:53execute they can get Minnesota rattled they're gonna have a stranglehold on this series yeah I agree
02:58they have to continue to play and you know Minnesota's got to play faster too they have to find ways
03:01to get out
03:02of transition make Nikola run make Nikola be uncomfortable try to force him in as many pick
03:06and rolls as possible his usage rate is so high it's one of the tops in the NBA you want
03:10to keep
03:11that high level on defense too he's got to be active so you know they also have to play and
03:15move the ball
03:16a little bit these are these are things that have really hindered them in the past when that ball
03:19sticks if they can start to move the ball play faster we can see maybe a win and a steal
03:23here
03:25the chess match between the coaches will be keeping an eye on that throughout this one David Adelman head
03:32coach of the Nuggets first full season as Nuggets head coach was an assistant coach earned his stripes
03:40as an assistant under his father with the Minnesota Timberwolves 15 years ago and Chris Finch well he was an
03:48assistant not long ago under Michael Malone with the Denver Nuggets this is his sixth season as head
03:54coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves he's led the Timberwolves for the playoffs in each of the five
03:59full seasons as he's led the charge for Minnesota
04:10great atmosphere here at ball arena
04:14as scowl mentioned this is the 30th the 30th meeting between these two franchises in the last four
04:22years our officials Tony brothers alongside Mitchell urban and venomitis metritis
04:34and game two is underway
04:39great atmosphere already you can just feel it
04:44Wolves got up to a fast start on Saturday as Randall can't hit his opening shot
04:54Jokic wants to get a finals MVP outside to Murray for three
05:01the five one pick and roll for a wide open shot to the hottest player in game one
05:07and he was over eight from three had it going for many Edwards the answer
05:13all eyes are on Anthony Edwards he has to play better than he did in game one absolutely
05:18at 22 in game one didn't shoot well from the floor
05:23this is Cam Johnson great look from deep off the heel
05:28another guy who's really found his confidence as of late in the year had a really good game one
05:32Sam Johnson
05:37McDaniels on the drive toss down to Randall
05:40Randall penetrating in the lane Randall got the land
05:44and that's what you want to see from Julius put it on the floor that jumper's not going early
05:47let's see the ball go to the basket a couple times and then you can stretch the game out a
05:51little bit
05:51and game one never left him wide open challenge him to shoot the three
05:57nice pass
05:59the finish off the feed from Gordon
06:02you cannot
06:04turn your head on this
06:05Denver Nuggets team they are great cutting they're a great cutting team
06:09gonna make you pay for sure
06:12deep in ten zone can't hit from deep Gordon the rebound
06:18the challenge we're gonna have what type of shock quality are we gonna get versus Denver
06:37We welcome everyone who saw that thriller at the garden
06:41Atlanta taking down the Knicks in game two to even up that series
06:46expected a good one here game two
06:49Nuggets Timberwolves all knotted up at five in the early going at Randall
06:54a swish from downtown
06:56he was in the lab late last night
06:58I caught him sneaking out of the hotel to get some late night shots up
07:01good to see that first one go down three
07:05Randall was seven of 16 from the floor in game one
07:10Johnson out to Jokic
07:15Murray little heads he got to the rack turned it over
07:18Edwards
07:22looks like he's grimacing favoring that right name
07:26pass inside Gobert
07:29size advantage over Johnson
07:32Gobert toss out to McDaniels
07:36shot clock lining down McDaniels bottled up fire
07:40left it short tremendous defensive sequence
07:44Gordon with the highlight throw down
07:49that's tough for Minnesota they should have been going down on a fast break up against the shot clock
07:54and give up two on the other end
07:59well Gordon with the bounce to himself
08:03Randall another Trey he's the key he's the X factor for me you know we talk about it we talk
08:08about Jada and some of these other guys but he's one B
08:11you saw what happened he put that layup in now he's seen the ball go to the net a couple
08:15times he's got a rhythm
08:15he was 0 for 3 from downtown in game one
08:19he's knocked down two threes already and this is what we're keeping an eye on Anthony Edwards
08:24shots and some significant discomfort yeah he gets hit right there by Jokic
08:29as soon as he passed
08:31grabs his V
08:35McDaniels hard drive
08:36coughed it up
08:39Cam Johnson coast to coast
08:41swatted at the rim
08:42a foul is called
08:45DeVincenzo raises his hand
08:47but that's got to be a good sign for Minnesota
08:49the fact that
08:50Anthony Edwards got back and challenged his shot he wasn't grimacing or limping on that play
08:57I think he's right here
09:03definitely got whacked right across the arm and you can see Ant telling DeVincenzo let me go up there
09:08vertical with him make him finish over me
09:12he's got his knee drained multiple times so when you know that happens it ends up kind of just feeling
09:16like a really big bruise every hit every cut every burst you just feel it kind of wailing on you
09:22he's gonna have to play through that though that's tough
09:24while we know anything can happen in a playoff series history tells us that tonight's game
09:29could be critical in the series outcome the Nuggets have never lost a playoff series 8-0 when they take
09:36a
09:36two games to none lead and the Timberwolves in their playoff history they have fell failed to win a postseason
09:42series 0-8 when they drop the first two games you don't want to put that pressure on yourself
09:48like you have to win game three they could steal one tonight
09:51puts them back in the driver's seat
09:54Edwards at the elbow over to Randall hot hand early spinning firing can't hit tipped up and off
10:01and here comes gordon for the nuggets
10:06gordon sees the runway outside look for browns
10:11three ball corner pocket in front of the Timberwolves bench
10:15their spacing is elite they're so calm on the weak side
10:24mcdaniels
10:27edwards now fires from deep off the march murray the ball
10:34and the wolves led by 10 after one on saturday
10:39and the nuggets rally back after a big second quarter we have a foul on the floor
10:49all right take a look at this drive look at the weak side look how patient they are they move
10:55to
10:55space christian brown wide open in the corner scout aren't you encouraged to cut and be ready when you
11:01know the ball will come to you yeah they they all cut they all pass it's like yokich has
11:06oh
11:09telling you he's got a different swag about him right now that cam johnson they traded for
11:14it's starting to come into fruition for him yeah he got a lot of heat early on in the season
11:19but
11:19he's responding
11:23go bear push shot won't go
11:28nice pass brown hanging
11:30count it plus the foul they turns up they turns up in here
11:39timeout minnesota
11:41denver right now doing everything right
11:45offensively spacing and running the four christian brown with the and one
11:51denver in control early
11:55we welcome you back to mile high it's a 17 11 advantage for the nuggets approaching the midway
12:02mark of the opening quarter here inside ball arena michael grady austin rivers brian
12:06scalabrini grant lifman joins us as well electric atmosphere already scowl as the nuggets off to a
12:12fast start yeah they're shooting 75 percent from the field they're getting anything they want
12:16and nikola yokich hasn't even got going on the offensive end yet it's scary and right now for
12:21minnesota it's all about responding right coming out of this timeout are you executing can we get to
12:26the basket can we get to the free throw line see if we can just slow this game down a
12:30little bit
12:30until we get full feel i think it's denver's way so far and the early going looked like anthony
12:37edwards banged knees with nikola yokich so he's been favoring that right knee which kept him out of most of
12:45the last month of the regular season as we have an offensive foul going against dante divincenzo
12:52they're running that spain action yep where they try to screen to help
12:57divincenzo look like a pulling guard call cause a little confusion and divincenzo who hit four
13:04three-pointers in game one just picked up his second foul
13:08and he's going to take a seat and io de sumo will check in for minnesota
13:15seems like minnesota needs some kind of spark right now 100 percent
13:19io could score it bones could score it but one way or another
13:22if andy edwards is going to be lipping up the floor they need another guy
13:25put the ball in the hole
13:30and the nuggets shooting 75 percent so far in this first quarter yokich yep yet to attempt a shot
13:39outside look murray for three front iron won't go and go bear the ball great job by jenny mcdaniels
13:46holding them up there
13:50edwards working in traffic gave it up to naz reed skip pass to mcdaniels in the corner fires
13:56can't hit rebound secured by yokich
14:02see how nicole just clears it gets the ball out of his hands
14:06hard away tuck fave for two talk about a six minute of the year candidate right there
14:12man yokich processes at such a high level edwards split the defense and was held
14:18look how much help yokich is looking this way by the time he glances over that ball is on time
14:26on target it's unbelievable how he could be looking one way and know exactly what's going on the other
14:32on the other side of the floor timmy didn't even he shot that before he even had eye contact with
14:37the rim
14:38high degree of difficulty nuggets up by nine
14:46low pass the rate sets up the sumo baseline drive the runner is long
14:52and that several shooting 28 percent so far that's because they're shooting they're not getting inside the key to the
15:00defense
15:02good ball movement gordon inside the elbow can't hit the single blinds the ladder for the ball
15:13that's the size advantage
15:16edwards long two won't go they are four for 15 in the early going
15:23i don't even know how many paint touches they have it's got to be less than three at this point
15:30and edwards picks up the foul
15:33much to the elation of this ball arena crowd
15:38and chris finch looking for a spark will bring bones highland into the ball game
15:46why do they boo the guy he is a former nugget i know he left under
15:51any terms
15:53he didn't play even when they boo you they're really saying they love you yeah
16:01yogic sizing up edwards over to murray from d
16:05he hits plus the foul a four-point play opportunity for murray who depths up everyone in the first row
16:14he does he's feeling good everybody got a deck if you see nicola right here he doesn't force
16:19anything as soon as he sees a little bit of creep he gets off it and every one of their
16:24players
16:25knows if nicola yogic is passing near the ball he's already made the decision just go on up with it
16:33kirsten brown said after game one that it's good to win a game when you don't feel like you played
16:38well
16:38and one of the reasons the nuggets don't feel like they played well is they didn't hit open
16:41shots they were one for 17 from downtown in the second half well they've knocked down four three
16:48pointers already in this first period and they're shooting 67 from the floor and if you're minneapolis
16:54right now if you're the timberwolves we got to get good quality shots right now we're starting to fall
16:59behind you do not want to get down big here in denver the elevation versus a team like this
17:03it's very tough to come back let's get some good shots denver on a 17-0 run and randall can't
17:10end it
17:11the sumu scoops it up shot clock reset nasri shaking up
17:18edwards through contact and a foul is called but i don't understand how that's not a shooting foul
17:24what else was he doing with one second on the clock it has to be a shooting foul what else
17:30was he doing
17:33oh it's really really paying up here
17:37on the glass randall besides you yeah see they fixed it oh that's gotta be a shooting yeah
17:45i mean there's nothing else he's doing there there it is yeah they change it to a shooting foul
17:50teamwork makes the dream work
17:53you have a veteran officiating crew tony brothers is our crew chief 32nd year
17:58as an nba official this is his 218th postseason game as a official and obviously i didn't like the way
18:07he
18:07got to the line but nonetheless i'll take it you just got to see the ball go through the net
18:10a couple
18:11times man just get get your feel involved in the game he snaps a run of 17 unanswered yeah for
18:16the nuggets
18:20well good things happen when you drive the ball julius randall drove it they got an offensive rebound
18:25you got to hit the paint you you can't win games without hitting the paint
18:33over to murray had 30 in game one again
18:42they at least the monster never won a game and they didn't play well murray didn't shoot the ball well
18:50he is right now coming off those hand backs rising up another four-point play opportunity
18:58de vincenzo had to go to the bench after picking up two fouls to sumo checked in
19:03and fouls murray twice beyond the arc
19:07and they are not going to have to go to the bench
19:12they are not going to play the ball
19:22for now over the highland hardaway got hits and a skelly selly from highland who knocks down the
19:30track he could be huge for this team right now you talk about a punch and a lift off the
19:33bench
19:34Bones Highland can provide that.
19:36Coach Adelman mentioned it in our meeting.
19:39Bones is a dangerous player.
19:40They've got to make sure they try to slow him down.
19:44Jokic all alone.
19:46Can't hit.
19:48And out of bounds.
19:49And then we'll go to Minnesota.
19:52Hey, no, no, listen.
19:53Sometimes when your starters are down, the bench got to pick them up,
19:56especially in the pit layoff game.
19:57This is what you went outside, Nas Reed, for.
20:01Some of these guys, they can make a difference here
20:03and get back in this game.
20:04I wonder if Chris Finch will call Bones' number right here.
20:09Highland.
20:11Over to Edwards.
20:12Curling to the rim.
20:13Goes Glass.
20:13They do not have shot blocking.
20:15This is one area where they know they can get to the rim
20:18and actually get something productive there.
20:20Nice job getting Anthony Edwards off the ball.
20:23Yes.
20:23Good call.
20:26Just the second two-point field goal of the ball game for Minnesota.
20:31Hardaway.
20:32Foul!
20:33On a three!
20:34Yo, what's going on?
20:37We have to foul.
20:38That was, clearly.
20:39You've got to be smarter than that.
20:43That's an emotional foul.
20:47The threes weren't falling in the second half on Saturday.
20:50The Nuggets making it rain in the opening quarter tonight.
21:01Let's take a look at tonight's DraftKings player tracker.
21:04Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic, both around 28 points per contest this season.
21:09DraftKings number one sports book for live betting.
21:11The Nuggets.
21:12To get in on the action, download the app and use promo code DUNK when you sign up.
21:19Edwards during the timeout to the official.
21:21They have four and one threes.
21:25Yes, they do.
21:27Four of them.
21:29This was number four.
21:32Hardaway fouled by Bones Highland.
21:36Hardaway was fouled on the three pointer 21 times during the regular season.
21:41Completes another four point play opportunity for the Nuggets.
21:46Murray had two of them already in this opening quarter.
21:50Reid from downtown.
21:52That won't go.
21:53Hits the top of the backboard.
21:55And here come the Nuggets the other way.
21:57Nursing a 14 point advantage.
22:10Handoff to Hardaway.
22:12Hardaway with a long two.
22:13Won't go.
22:14Edwards the board.
22:16Tough shot right there.
22:17Great defense.
22:20Edwards.
22:21Defended by Jones.
22:22Step back three.
22:23Left it short.
22:24Back tap.
22:25Out of bounds.
22:26Last touched.
22:28By Nasri.
22:29Anthony Edwards going to take a seat as Kyle Anderson checks in.
22:33Edwards acknowledged he was fatigued in the second half of game one.
22:38First meaningful minutes in about a month.
22:40Yeah.
22:41And playing at altitude couldn't have helped.
22:42And some of that pride sets in, you know, because he's a prideful guy.
22:46He starts chasing around Jamal Murray.
22:48Which is great because you like to see your leader do that.
22:50But the responsibilities he has on offense to go with that.
22:53It's taxing.
22:56Under two minutes to go here in this opening frame.
23:01Brown.
23:02And the lane fouled by Highland.
23:05And Brown will go to the line to shoot two.
23:08And Bones actually was in a decent position there.
23:10He bailed him out by just putting his hands down.
23:12Just go vertical and make him make a tough shot.
23:16How elated are you if you're the Denver Nuggets?
23:19You have a 14 point advantage.
23:21And Jokic is 0 for 1.
23:24That's crazy.
23:25I mean Denver right now their shot making is off the charts.
23:28Yeah.
23:31Brown can't hit the first free throw as we take a look at the upcoming playoff schedule.
23:35Peacock and NBCSN tomorrow.
23:3876ers at the Celtics for game two.
23:41NBC Peacock tomorrow.
23:42Blazers, Spurs, Rockets, Lakers.
23:45For more on these games go to NBA.com or visit the NBA app.
23:48You mentioned Jokic.
23:50He has six assists that had led to 16 points.
23:54That's efficiency.
23:55Yeah.
23:58The sumo lines up a three that won't drop.
24:02And we'll have a foul.
24:04We'll keep it here.
24:05This is going against Spencer Jones.
24:10And Minnesota's going to have to make plays like this.
24:13It's going to have to junk it up, be ugly.
24:14Let's figure out a way to get back in this game and get every extra possession we can.
24:18Let's play off basketball.
24:19You got to claw.
24:20You got to scrape.
24:22You keep mentioning no shot blocking.
24:24They should drive the ball.
24:26They're just settling.
24:28Six four threes.
24:29Highland.
24:30A three.
24:30I don't mind if he shoots him though.
24:32There's a few guys that can, but it's just right now everything is on the perimeter for Minnesota.
24:38Highland two for two from downtown.
24:40He was 0 for 3 and 5 minutes off the bench in game one.
24:44It's Jokic's first field goal of the night.
24:47That's ridiculous.
24:53Randall, attack mode.
24:55Too strong on glass.
24:57Out of bounds.
24:58And they'll keep it here.
25:05That's a great pass from Cam Johnson.
25:07But watch Jokic's body control.
25:10That's away from his body.
25:12No rim.
25:14Filthy.
25:19Headbound to Randall.
25:21And it's Kyle Anderson up top.
25:24Randall from deep.
25:26No.
25:27And out of bounds.
25:29Oh, this.
25:30What a play.
25:31Highland the steal.
25:33Three on two.
25:34Highland.
25:36Offensive foul.
25:37Wow.
25:39That's going to get challenged.
25:41Hardaway with two outstanding plays for the Nuggets.
25:46And that's where you got a three on one.
25:48Bones makes a great play on the ball.
25:50Keeps his head up.
25:51But then you got to keep that head up, man.
25:53It's a three on one.
25:54Hit that trailer for a layup.
25:58That's a great save by Hardaway.
26:05And.
26:05Ooh, I don't know about that one.
26:09It's.
26:09Come on.
26:10That's playoff of motion right there.
26:11Go down.
26:12About that.
26:12Tim Hardaway.
26:17Highland who created a spark off the bench.
26:19Knocking down a couple of threes.
26:21Has picked up three fouls.
26:24Hardaway is fouled and will go to the line.
26:27And I don't want to see any complaining.
26:29Go to the basket then.
26:30And you want to get a call?
26:31Yeah.
26:32Then put the ball on the floor and go in the paint.
26:35Denver's putting the ball on the floor.
26:36They're driving.
26:37They're kicking.
26:37They're not forcing anything.
26:38They're getting good looks letting the game come to them.
26:40Minnesota right now is just kind of dancing around the perimeter.
26:45Part of playing defense is having discipline not to foul.
26:48Swiping down late on a shot.
26:52You've got to have discipline when you're guarding guys.
26:55A couple times you're in great position and then swipe down at the last minute.
27:00Or foul on a three.
27:01Yeah.
27:01That's all the mindset of finishing out of possession.
27:06Hardaway good at the line.
27:09Nuggets nine for ten at the free throw line.
27:12Meanwhile, Minnesota just two for two so far.
27:15And a lot of that due in part to settling for long range attempts.
27:21Eleven second difference shot in game clock.
27:25Randall aggressive.
27:26And we'll go to the line for two.
27:28What do you know?
27:29What do you know?
27:31Put your head down sometimes.
27:33Get to the paint.
27:34We're going to say it for the eighth time tonight.
27:37They do not have shot blocking.
27:39It's like you've got to know the lead.
27:41This series was a little chippy.
27:44So the officials want to control.
27:45And control the game by calling some fouls early on.
27:54See Nicola.
27:55What's he?
27:55He's coaching Brown over there.
28:01Brown takes a seat.
28:03Julius Randall.
28:04You see his shot chart in game one.
28:07Much more effective when he was in the paint.
28:09He made it a concerted effort to get there in the second half.
28:13Of course, 0 for 3 from downtown.
28:151 for 3 in the mid-range.
28:16One is hitting 1 for 85.
28:182 here.
28:19All right.
28:21Randall's good at the line.
28:23Lien.
28:24I think double figures.
28:26And he's had like start to the game.
28:27Without him, this game would already be...
28:30Maybe out of reach.
28:35A second difference between the shot game clock.
28:40Murray rolling to the rim beautiful feed
28:43Gordon with the flush
28:48The call is telling to get up
28:53Gobert
28:54Tossed over to McDaniels McDaniels with the leg with two tenths of a second remaining
29:01Jokic with the heave and that is a tremendous first 12 minutes for dinner hell of a play by go
29:07bear
29:07Yes, it was size
29:10All Denver in the first 12 39 points in the opening quarter. They lead by 14. You're watching NBA playoffs
29:18with anybody Google
29:24What a difference 48 hours makes
29:26Denver down 10 after one on Saturday in game one tonight
29:31They put up 39 points up 14 as we start second quarter action
29:36Here at ball arena Michael Grady, Austin Rivers, Brian Scalabrini Grant Liffman
29:42fast start for the Nuggets
29:44Shot 67 percent on the floor in the first 12
29:49hard away
29:52It's a big-time shot and huge
29:54I mean he had that ball placed on the right side of his body
29:57It wasn't even a squared-up jump shot one of the three finalists for six man of the year Tim
30:03Hardaway jr
30:04Edwards stops pops left it short valentine is the ball
30:10He took on three guys on that possession
30:15Murray nice fancy Murray the floater he's so crafty eddie
30:21The Nuggets outscored the wall 1610 and the non-yoke it's minutes in the first half on Saturday off to
30:28a fast start here in the second
30:31Oh
30:32Nice snatch back Edwards bottom my goodness
30:37And Anthony Edwards wants to score that's what they're gonna have to do there were four guys in the paint
30:43looking at Edwards
30:44There's nowhere for him to drive. He has to make tough threes
30:49That was tough. This the quietest this building has been in a while
30:54Murray long to left it short battle for the rebound that's snagged by Reeve
31:00That's what you got to do right now. Let Jaden Garvin, you know him one-on-one
31:04Edwards to the rack and an offensive foul is called
31:10They called it on go bear and go bear the lack of arguing from go bear lets me think he's
31:17guilty. Let's see here. Oh
31:19Yeah, oh, yeah
31:22Why do that and the Edwards can elevate over anybody and he had a full head of steam. Yeah, I
31:28mean these plays are killing them right now
31:30Johnson
31:32No valentunis
31:35Grabbed it with one arm fouled by go bear
31:38And that is two fouls go bear with the first quarter without picking up a foul picks up two fouls
31:44here
31:45In the first two minutes of the second quarter
31:52Minnesota and valentunis thinks it's a shooting foul
31:56Minnesota's not doing themselves any favors here
31:58They're disciplined at the start of this game. It's like the crowd and everything in the moment seems to be
32:03a little bit too big for them
32:05Right now. You just want them to settle down. Let's just settle down
32:11Murray rolling
32:12High arching finger all long go Murray the offensive board Johnson. No and even Cinzo getting up for the rebound.
32:20You know, he'll fight
32:24That was trying to get rolled saddled by Murray. Look at all the eyes on Edwards
32:31Edwards the step throw and got the lay with the left
32:34This lineup is vulnerable even more than the first line of in terms of getting to the basket. I
32:39Want in just live in the paint pitch attended there
32:43We can get to the jump shot later
32:45Edwards now with 12
32:49Without the ball Jamal's hands. This is the team. That's vulnerable as well. Look for me
32:54They got one playmaker on the floor right now
33:00Land did a great job here, but look like possibly a loss in possession great patience and a nice little
33:05step through
33:08All the way
33:10Driving firing off the mark and here comes
33:14Edwards almost had his pocket picked
33:23Those are two grossest competitors. I think everyone this shot him a look. Yeah, like
33:32Wait a minute. You don't know who you're dealing with here, man
33:38Bruce Brown used to play my pickup games in Boston
33:45Swing it to read
33:46Read the euro
33:48Count it and put them on the line and
33:51It did a great job there as soon as he saw to get the ball out of your hands trust
33:55your teammates to swing that ball around
33:57Finds Nas Reid on a closeout and he's got guard-like skills
34:00Get to the paint you can see they're doing it right now
34:04Look you got to get off it swing swing. It's simple
34:09Simple offense and he didn't settle he throws the ball go bear the offensive board Edwards
34:16Attacking off balance won't go, but Edwards will shoot two. Yes
34:22You see that tent and start the pitching right now. They're starting to live in that paint getting a steady
34:27diet of it
34:28How long do they go without yoke?
34:30pitch
34:31Every second seems like five minutes doesn't
34:35The offensive quality and how it drops when he's not in the game is remarkable
34:44Minnesota have a chance he makes this to be down 10 and they haven't even taken advantage of
34:51Drive kick extra pass wide open three yet
34:56He got hurt like we're happy average is driving. He scored on three never done. Yeah
35:02Left that short
35:05And a lane violation so to be we'll see what the call is that am I this for try this
35:16And I think he's calling a foul on woody go bear that's gonna be a stir
35:27I
35:28Don't like that. That's that's
35:34Got a technical what's going on here? Yeah, I mean the face guard block out is an automatic call
35:39I mean go bear deep throw him
35:41But any time you face guard block out a guy you're gonna get called so they call a loose ball
35:46foul on woody go bear
35:48That's his third and a technical on the honest battle and tunis. Oh that push
35:55Take another look at it here, so that's the foul and that's the tech
36:00Well, that's yeah, that's light make them all this the playoffs grown men out here
36:06Yes, that's lightweight I did that exact push last week at la fitness
36:12No call right no call
36:19Both teams going so
36:22The wolves get a point off of the valentunas technical, but they they lose in that exchange because go bear
36:27now has to take a seat
36:28Yeah, but they'll go small right now. Yeah, and they go out with valentunas
36:32So what you're gonna see now is a lot of switching
36:35This is where pride is gonna have to come in you're gonna have to guard your man right now because
36:38you're gonna get switched on a guy
36:39Who might be a little bit bigger?
36:41It's gonna be one to five switch
36:44Number 15 is gonna be second into the ball game soon for the Nuggets Murray
36:49Look at Jada Davis his hound
36:52He's solid
36:53Gordon the back down on McDaniels and a foul is called
36:57Hey, see I we got to get control of this
37:03I think they're worried about the game getting chippy because this is not a playoff foul
37:11Yeah, come on come on come on and an offensive foul is called on Spencer Jones
37:24I feel like the whistles are added to the animosity and you're caught you're right
37:34Yeah
37:41Edwards sees the double there you go nice pass
37:45Randall got to
37:47And timeout different that's good basketball right there and man drew two and it made the right play
37:54And it people will start moving the ball
37:5811 unanswered points for the Minnesota Timberwolves trying to claw back into this game
38:09Well listen they say if you ask you shall receive and that's exactly what we asked for is this team
38:13to get to the paint
38:14You saw this in game one is them loading and putting two in the ball
38:18Look at Bruce Brown just sitting there
38:19Julius Randall makes a conscious decision to clear it clears this slot drive
38:24Forcing Bruce to look look at Bruce now now that nail opens up just a little bit more
38:29So now when he gets to it's now a two-on-one on the backside easy pass pass
38:34That's how they're going to generate good offense
38:39Jokic back out there for the Nuggets
38:42Nuggets were outscored 11-5 with Jokic on the bench
38:48Murray easy deuce
38:52That's hard because if you try to square him up if you go to the step back, you're not getting
38:56back to that shot
38:58What a season for Jamal Murray's first time all-star one of the finalists for clutch player of the year
39:03nice pocket pass randall
39:06They're putting the poland pick and rolls right now attacking that payments five possessions in a row
39:11They've gotten to the paint. They've gotten good things out of it stars stepping up for Minnesota
39:15Edwards and randall 28 of their 38 points murray two more
39:21See Jamal say it don't matter
39:31Edwards
39:32Over to randall
39:34Devin cinzo open from downtown
39:38Can't let that guy get a good look he's about as automatic as they come especially with space and time
39:45This is brown to the rack missing the layup or grant liftman was in the minnesota huddle during that last
39:51time out grant
39:52Yeah, guys. It was a very spirited huddle and ant edwards is trying to get all these guys and rally
39:57them and get them all inspired as
39:59Nuggets here. Jamal Murray pulls up and misses the shot, but they were very optimistic despite the early struggles early
40:05on and head coach chris finch
40:06I'm going to save a few curse words here. He said despite all the stuff earlier. We're back in this
40:11guys. We are back in this
40:13Count it plus the foul
40:16From jayden mcdaniels. They are indeed back in this
40:20Hey, hey, that's what minnesota needs to do
40:24It's a significant difference in settling for all those jumpers the ball movement is crisp the pain attacks are there
40:31It's almost as if the light bulb went off. They're like, oh, okay. Yeah
40:35We can look down here. There's a reason
40:38Of all the playoff teams the denver nugget has to have the worst defensive rating
40:44There were 22nd in defense this year their rear protection at times was awful, so you should try to challenge
40:51that defense
40:53Murray
40:53No good edwards got up to the board collides with murray no whistle and a late whistle is going against
41:00murray
41:04That was late, but it's a loose ball foul
41:09And edwards who only played in three of the last 14 regular season games for the wolves
41:15With that right knee and right now just taking a little breather
41:21So much is being asked of him to not only generate offense, but he's got a chase around jamal
41:28Proud reacting to the replay is edwards sliding into murray
41:35First foul on murray and we're gonna have a challenge
41:40I don't know about that one
41:43It's gonna be a tough one to win
41:45Adelman challenging the call we'll have the results after this timeout
41:52It was a successful challenge for david adelman but not the success that he was hoping for the call on
41:59the floor was a foul on jamal
42:00murray, but you see here aaron gordon with the push
42:03on edwards into murray
42:06And so tony brothers after taking a look at the monitor changed the foul from murray to gordon
42:13And in doing so it's a successful challenge
42:16For david adelman just not exactly what he was expecting in turn is now two fouls
42:22on aaron gordon
42:24the sumo steps into a three it's good and we have a one
42:29Possession ball game the timberwolves have battled back from a 19 point deficit
42:36Murray full head of steam toss out aaron gordon clicks the wrist can't hit rebound secured by edwards
42:48Wolves can tie or take the lead
42:52Edwards
42:54And the lane step through foul by your kids
42:59It's gonna be the second foul audio kids. He's got the right idea. He's laboring a little bit right now,
43:04but
43:06Keep slicing keep dice and you see he's just coming off these pick and roll sharp
43:11Little split right there loses it. There's a great little
43:14Gather step to get that foul
43:16Just don't know what to expect when these two teams get together
43:20minnesota battling back from 19 down
43:24And a chance to tie it up the nba playoffs presented by google continue with game two between the sixers
43:31and the celtics tomorrow cover starts at 6
43:34eastern on nbc and peacock with tips at 7 12
43:39And there they go
43:42Rudy go bear picks up his back
43:43It's a foul trouble they go small
43:46They attack the rim their offense looks completely different. Yeah
43:53Jokic couldn't control it and somehow
43:57Finds jokic at the elbow eight on the shot clock round
44:02Penetrating outside gordon
44:04No
44:06Great job by minnesota just putting out fires they're scrambling not everything's gonna be perfect
44:12Wolves haven't led since it was 11 9
44:16edwards hanging
44:18for two
44:20The acrobatics from edwards gives minnesota the lead
44:26He'll get inside and that's a goaltender mcdaniels with the help defense
44:33Got it on the way down
44:37How's that knee of anthony edwards it looks good right here hit him with the in and out crossover then
44:41here just a little bit of hang time
44:44Elevation looks fine for him last four possessions minnesota is getting yokich in all the pick and roll coverages
44:52Edwards has 10 in the second quarter alone 17 for the game
44:57Edwards sees a double good ball moment the sumo finds deep in cinzo for three he's not missing to be
45:04open
45:05That thing didn't even hit the rim minnesota 52 denver 50
45:11He's not missing to be open
45:15Yokich
45:20Randall with the assignment outside to murray yes
45:25Huge shot yes, it was they're bleeding a little bit the last minute or two
45:32They're going back to this little match-up zone here watch steven chenzo
45:37We've got a battle at mile high randall over to edwards edwards wants three yes, sir
45:45That time they put two on
45:47Julius randall makes the right play the ball movement of minnesota has been a difference in the second quarter
45:55Yoke it's just three shot attempts so far in the first half
45:59Battling with randall and the three-time mvp found on the floor
46:10See right here and could have forced a little fade away. No finds julius swing swing good to great offense
46:20And it's amazing how that rim gets a little bit bigger after you've seen that ball go to the basket
46:25a couple times couple drives couple layups couple free throws
46:29ant-man finds himself in a little bit of a rhythm
46:32I was wondering with denver's defensive game one
46:36Was it gimmick or was it substance and the way that they guarded everyone was talking about oh, they're just
46:42turning it on in the playoffs
46:47Get it up
46:56Tied up double nickel randall off balance will go to the line to shoot two
47:05Just a breakdown defensively for minnesota
47:11Aggressive
47:13That's the luxury of getting a handoff from nicola you know the big's not going to help
47:17So you can come off that hard you come up that screen that hand off you're wide open
47:22First playoff basketball action from cam johnson since 2023 when he was in brooklyn
47:29Of course was part of the finals run for the phoenix suns back in 2021
47:34As we take a look at tonight's draft kings player tracker anthony edwards
47:39Average
47:40Just under 29 points per game during the regular season yoke
47:44It's just under 28
47:45While averaging the triple double for the second straight year draft kings number one sports book for live betting to
47:51get in on the action
47:51Download the app and use promo code dunk when you sign up
47:57It's just under 29 points per game
47:58Julius randall has the Nicole yoke it's matchup
48:01He's so engaged offensively, but it's also helped him on the offensive end
48:09Yoke it's can't hit conley the board the wolves have outscored the nuggets 31 to 16 here in the second
48:18quarter
48:22Randall outside to conley touch pass to read good from downtown
48:29We told you they just needed to settle down a little bit. They've done it now
48:38Gordon
48:40Fouled
48:41By not three
48:46Julius did a great job here realizing the size advantage of the mismatch
48:51He was baiting the defense the entire time to swing that ball knowing they would come helping
48:56Again good to great
48:58How about 17 assists on 20 made field goals for minnesota and we didn't see a lot of that
49:04When they were good they were moving the ball in the first quarter, but there were some bad possessions there
49:14Hardaway provided a spark in the first quarter
49:18He had 11 points on three of five shooting he checks back in for cam johnson
49:25What a turnaround
49:27This is one of the more underrated rivalries in the nba
49:3230th meeting between these two teams in the last four years
49:36Third postseason meeting in the last four years and so many players have actually gone from team to team
49:42You know you've had some some interchange there
49:45A lot of connections between these two squads
49:48This is edwards under three minutes to go
49:52You can argue the man that's built both teams tim connelly tim connelly drafted nikola yokich
49:58Drafted jamal murray traded for aaron gordon was the team president of the nuggets for nine years
50:04Before he made his way to minnesota to try to build a denver killer
50:09He's got a whale of a ball game at mile high
50:15Here's the man we were just talking about who had a big hand in building both of these
50:19two contenders
50:21Tim connelly president of basketball operations for the minnesota timberwolves
50:25Spent nine years as team president of the nuggets
50:28Drafted yokich and murray trading for aaron gordon the nuggets won a championship the year after
50:34Connelly left to join the minnesota timberwolves
50:40250 to go in the second quarter randall saw an opening got the lay
50:46Randall's been awesome in this second quarter both sides of the ball scoring it getting guys involved moving it
50:54Just playing making simple plays but making them look easy
51:00Minnesota by six swatted out of there by edwards
51:05Yoke it straight on three won't go rebound to sumo pass ahead to randall
51:11the sumo lost it out of bounds and waiting on a whistle
51:17and they're gonna say it stays with minnesota
51:22How about the sumo with the outlet and then
51:25Beat everybody down the floor and it was challenging finch to review it like this is an obvious foul
51:31great help side by in
51:36Edwards
51:38Had 22 in game one has 20 so far tonight
51:44Pass out brown got a hand on it seven on the shot clock
51:48Pass ahead to the sumo to sumo to the rim he's the blur yes he was right downhill no wasted
51:56movement
51:59Wolves by eight and then largest lead of the night the energy has shifted
52:05Gordon along two front iron no
52:12Wolves that scored on 10 straight possessions
52:19Edwards one straight
52:21It's a good look though. I don't find that
52:25Yoke it's yet to really get going just two for five
52:30This is brown inside
52:32Yoke it's easiest to the night
52:35He does have seven assists and five boards, but just six
52:39He's out of tip, but high iq played by never going side to side and yoke it
52:43Getting two feet in that restricted area
52:46Nas Reed no
52:49You see fitz he just looked at Nas Reed and said drive him
52:54We've got him back in the game
52:56Here's gordon step through out to hard away
53:01yes
53:03Automatic
53:05And you can't leave him wide open
53:09Nuggets looking for a flurry to close the second quarter
53:14A quarter that's been dominated by the wolves
53:23Four seconds randall
53:27And over on the top of the backboard
53:30It'll be denver ball in a one possession game
53:33You might think that the bad shot, but they still get the two for one out of it
53:37Maybe they didn't feel like they could drive with yoke at the basket
53:40Minnesota will get another possession
53:44The veteran mike conley takes the seat
53:49The sumo also checks out of the ball game six second difference between the shot game clock
53:58murray has 20 points himself in these first two quarters
54:04Jokic pass outside
54:08Can't hit
54:09Steven cinzo tastes it down and the wolves can hold for the final shot of the second quarter great heads
54:15up play by diva
54:16Let's get the last shot here to close this half
54:19edwards
54:22And he traveled
54:25Yeah, diva chenco's got a lift out of that corner a lot faster randall he rolled to the basket
54:31diva chenco could have been wide open for a three i think he's almost expecting him there
54:36Kind of premeditated that past expecting that guy to be there diva chenzo could have got an open three for
54:41sure
54:44You're minnesota this is what we talked about with the emotions though. Let's just close this half no cheap fouls
54:52Murray two seconds murray the heat
55:00He does this religiously man i mean he makes these shots all the time
55:10Minnesota should have gone to them they gotta know that in the playoffs
55:14We said it's one of the best rivalries in the nba
55:19It's probably the best
55:21Nuggets outscore the wolves 39 25 in the opening quarter
55:25Wolves outscore the nuggets 39 25 in the second period
55:31After 24 minutes were tied at 64
55:41Let's send it over to grant lufton
55:43All right
55:45What a crazy half you guys were up 19 early they stormed back in the second quarter what changed quarter
55:52to quarter gamer runs man
55:55Just got figure out how to weather the storm the second half
55:58Get stops when we had lead a chair ship
56:02You had a crazy suit sequence there where you go in and he died for the ball you throw it
56:08back
56:08You get a charge you go the other way get to the line what's going to your head?
56:11What are through the motions in this one just trying to make winning plays man
56:15Just trying to be more assertive more effective this game than last and uh
56:18Just trying to put my stamp on it. All right. Thank you. Best of luck. Let's go back to maria
56:23taylor in the studio
56:32You
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