- Nuggets unravel in 106-80 defeat in Game 2
- Denver in two-game hole in best-of-seven series
The Minnesota Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, overpowered the Denver Nuggets on Monday night in a stunningly efficient 106-80 thrashing of the reigning but reeling NBA champions.
“We’ve had some really good defensive efforts this year,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said after his team took a surprising 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semi-finals. “That has to be right up there with the best of them.”
The Wolves held Denver to an ugly 29-of-83 shooting night, without their best defender, center Rudy Gobert, who was back in Minneapolis for the birth of his son.
Gobert’s fingerprints were all over this defensive showing, though, Finch said. “Rudy’s driven the defensive culture here. I think it’s a testament to his impact, his presence and what he’s infused into the team of how important defense is and how great it can be when we play it,” Finch said. “That aside, we expect to win no matter who’s with us and who’s not.”
