Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves in Game 1 with a playoff career-high 43 points.
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One team showed a hungry spirit from the beginning, fought back even after receiving counter punches, and took the initiative in the final stages to finish the job.
And that team wasn't the defending NBA champion.
Instead, what the Timberwolves showed in the opening game of the Western Conference semifinals is that they're not afraid of the moment, the venue, and especially their opponent.
Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves took control of the series with a 106-99 victory, putting the Nuggets in a new position for the first time since last year's postseason.
Here are five takeaways from Game 1, where Minnesota stole home court advantage from Denver.
1. Nugget needs an answer to Ant
Inside the NBA: Dirk Nowitzki thinks Anthony Edwards is the 'complete package'
This series has been primarily about Nikola Jokic since the beginning, and devising ways to slow down the big man. Because…yes, he's a two-time Kia MVP and reigning Finals MVP.
But perhaps the scenario shifts to Edwards and whether the Nuggets can limit him.
He dominated the first half, scoring 25 of his team's 40 points, but became a problem for Denver after a sluggish third quarter. By the age of 23, Edwards, who scored 43 points, had the second-most 35-point playoff games in NBA history, with six behind Luka Doncic's seven.
But one game into this series, Denver will likely be looking for a strategy for Edwards, much like the Suns did in the first round. He's too physical and strong for smaller defenders (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) and too fast for taller defenders (Michael Porter Jr. and others).
Don't make a mistake — Edwards is trying to make a name for himself in basketball against another legendary player. First up was Kevin Durant. Edwards chopped up a Suns forward (whom he respects) and told him about it.
This time it's Jokic, and while the Nuggets center isn't guarding Edwards one-on-one, he's sharing the court with him.
“It's always fun playing against the best players in the world,” he said. “It's always fun playing against the best teams. I lost to them last year and they're the defending champions…it's going to be a battle.”
Well, if that's the case, Edwards scored a TKO in the first fight.
2. Nas was good
Once again we see why Naz Reid won this year's Kia Sixth Man Award. Once again, he replaced Karl-Anthony Towns — who was in foul trouble in the fourth quarter — and the Timberwolves showed no signs of opening up.
Reed had 14 points in the quarter, which was crucial for a team that doesn't have a lot of offensive depth. To put this into perspective, Reid averaged just under 10 points per game in the first round sweep against the Suns.
But he's more than capable, an athletic player who can shoot from deep, brings an improved mid-range shot, and isn't shy about challenging players at the rim. It's a big man.
Contrary to league orthodoxy, the Timberwolves deploy a “legitimate big three” in Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid.
When Towns was out for nearly three weeks late in the season, Reid filled in and not only played well, but also helped propel the Timberwolves to the top seed in the West. In this series, he brings his best credentials off the bench, giving the Timberwolves a decisive edge.
“He persevered,” Edwards said. “There's been a lot of growth in Naz. He hasn't let anything bother him. He just has to be patient and the games will come.”
3. Nuggets are worried about Murray
Is Jamal Murray okay now? Not in terms of availability, not in the sense that he was fit for the first leg, but in terms of his health and body?
He did not practice after injuring his calf muscle in the first round against the Lakers. And on Saturday, he failed to score in the first half (for the first time in his playoff career), raising concerns about his momentum and energy not only in this game but the rest of this series.
Please remember. He only has one day off between Games 1 and 2. He will get a lot of relief during his three days off between Games 2 and 3. However, if he struggles again, the Nuggets could find themselves in an 0-2 hole. He had previously played two games in Minneapolis.
That would be a shame For them and Murray. The good news is he played better in the second half and was more aggressive, scoring 17 points. Still, he'll have to use a lot of energy defensively to keep up with a speedy guard like Conley, who had 14 points and 10 assists.
“We wanted to be as physical as possible against him,” said Wolves assistant coach Mika Nori, who shared bench duties with injured head coach Chris Finch. I knew it was going to happen,” he said. “Try to wear him out.”
4. Joker didn't hurt the Wolves.
Inside the NBA: How the Timberwolves' defense 'speeded up' Nikola Jokic
Jokic was a concern, but he was fine in this game. He only impacted a handful of possessions and stretches, never dominated the game, and certainly wasn't at Edwards' level.
This is a win in itself for the Wolves, who can throw more size to Jokic than most teams, and for one game in the series, it worked to an extent.
Minnesota started Towns over Jokic, but Jokic quickly got Towns into foul trouble. There was no problem for the Wolves. Rudy Gobert and Reed were also there, giving Jokic a different-looking defender and forcing the two-time MVP to make adjustments.
Jokic was asked How he handles these different looks for the rest of this series.
“To create duplicate clones of yourself,” he said.
Even better for the Timberwolves, Jokic only had nine assists, meaning they couldn't put as many teammates in their usual positions to do damage. That was Minnesota's strategy from the beginning – let Joker score points, but not big points or big assists.
And when fddfdf Jokic did shoot, he wasn't very effective, making just 11 of 29 shots.
5. Wolf brings confidence
It's not wise to make too much profit on one game. The series could move in a hurry. It happens all the time.
But this much is clear: The Wolves are up to the challenge. They won't be intimidated like they were when Jokic and the Nuggets defeated the Timberwolves in the playoffs a year ago to win the championship.
It's different now — Edwards, the Timberwolves' commitment to defense, Minnesota's bench (compared to the Nuggets' weakened bench), everything.
This team played on the road, dealt with Towns' foul trouble, had Conley and Reed step up in the second half, had Edwards take pole position as the most dangerous player, and posted an incredible efficiency rate in the final two quarters. Achieved.
“We know that 71 percent in the second half is unacceptable,'' Nuggets manager Michael Malone said.
It's unlikely Minnesota will do it again. But the Timberwolves just let the Nuggets know they're in for a fight.
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Sean Powell has covered the NBA for over 25 years.You can email him Find his archives here and follow him X.
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