Ayo Dosunmu's 43-point explosion may not repeat as Timberwolves try to finish Nuggets in Game 5

It was a reasonably coagulated play of NBA Playoff picks for the readers. We were capable to get an casual triumph connected the Magic squad full implicit successful Game 3 of their bid against Detroit (Game 4 takes spot tonight). We were besides capable to currency a summons connected the Thunder covering a reasonably ample fig connected the roadworthy against the Suns. Yesterday, the Cavs were successful power until they did the emblematic Cleveland happening and blew the crippled late. It is astir arsenic if each Cleveland sports squad has decided to marque the playoffs arsenic unreliable arsenic possible. Today, we spell for a triumph with the Timberwolves and the Nuggets taking each different connected successful Game 5.

This has been a spot of a chippy series, but it astir feels similar that is precisely what the Timberwolves wanted. Minnesota has been the squad calling retired Denver astir its defense, and they are happily accepting immoderate benignant of confrontation. Any squad with Anthony Edwards connected it volition person immoderate swagger, but this astir feels similar the T-Wolves are being disrespectful to this challenger. I accidental it is working, considering the squad is up 3-1 successful the series.

Denver Nuggets PG Jamal Murray drives to the overgarment connected Minnesota Timberwolves SG Anthony Edwards successful Game 3 successful the archetypal circular of the 2026 Western Conference Playoffs. (Abbie Parr/AP)

However, determination is simply a large origin for concern. The Timberwolves took a large deed past game, and I'm not talking astir the shoving betwixt Jaden McDaniels and Nikola Jokic. Their sharpshooter, Dante DiVincenzo, who was cited arsenic a large crushed they won Game 2, was mislaid for the play (and astir apt adjacent season) aft helium tore his Achilles. Significantly worse, the Timberwolves besides mislaid Edwards for a fewer weeks aft helium hyperextended his knee. If Minnesota is going to get 1 much crippled successful this bid to adjacent it out, they request to bash it without Edwards.

Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards shoots implicit Denver Nuggets PG Jamal Murray successful Game 3 of their first-round NBA playoff bid astatine Target Center successful Minneapolis. (Abbie Parr/AP)

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The Nuggets bash not look similar the one-time champion that you'd expect. They are proving the Timberwolves close successful the appraisal that their defence is trash. In 3 consecutive games, they've allowed implicit 112 points to their opponent, which is astir the play average. They besides lone scored 96 points successful some of the games successful Minnesota. Rudy Gobert, the much-maligned halfway for the Timberwolves, is doing a large occupation of limiting Jokic's success. We volition person to spot if Jokic tin fig retired Rudy's antiaircraft efforts.

Nuggets vs Timberwolves Game 3 prime hinges connected Jaden McDaniels calling retired Denver's full defense

Aaron Gordon has returned for Denver, but it does look similar helium is inactive struggling. He lone played 23 minutes and enactment successful conscionable 9 points connected 11 tract extremity attempts. Overall, the squad changeable conscionable 21% from heavy successful this game. I person to ideate that improves. The squad changeable astir 40% from heavy successful the regular season, but they are shooting 28% wide successful the series. That's inactive amended than what they showed successful Game 4.

Denver Nuggets halfway Nikola Jokic reacts successful overtime against the Minnesota Timberwolves astatine Ball Arena successful Denver, Colo., connected Dec. 25, 2025. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

A batch of the communicative successful Game 4 was astir the ending. It is simply a anserine narrative, but it pops up each present and then. The crippled was fundamentally implicit -- the Timberwolves had the shot with seconds remaining, tossed it down court, and alternatively than dribble it out, McDaniels went successful for a layup. Jokic took objection to it, and determination was immoderate insignificant shoving. No 1 ended up getting suspended, but determination were immoderate fines.

Missed successful that was the awesome crippled from Ayo Dosunmu of the Timberwolves. He was acquired astatine the commercialized deadline from the Bulls and gave Minnesota a vocation performance. Dosunmo scored 43 points successful that game, but I wouldn't expect that occurrence to continue. He is listed astatine 19.5 points tonight, and I similar the under. He is inactive a spot of a relation player, and adjacent though helium volition person an accrued role, determination won't beryllium location tribunal oregon an constituent of surprise. Julius Randle volition request to instrumentality implicit the bulk of the scoring duties, and I deliberation helium is much apt to spell implicit 21.5 points. I'll play some of these options contiguous arsenic Denver looks to widen the series.

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