Denver registered a franchise-worst playoff game after losing by 45 points
Just when the Nuggets were on the verge of eliminating their rivals and heading to the finals of the Western Conference, the reigning champions lost to the Timberwolves in a historic way on Thursday night. Believe it or not, Nikola Jokic and company were outscored by 45 points in Game 6, a 115-70 loss that pushed the series to a Game 7 final on Sunday.
Denver’s poor showing meant their worst scoring game ever, as Anthony Edwards scored 27, Jalen McDaniels scored 21 and Mike Conley returned from injury to contribute 13 points.
However, the real winners of the game were the defense of Minnesota, who saw their three big men Rudy Gobert, Nat Reid and Karl-Anthony Towns combine for 38 rebounds, and fell to the current MVP of the league. “The boys just believe in themselves,” said Ant. “I think the last three games we all knew nothing.”
“I told them that I will see the players of the seventh game”
ANT to the Nuggets locker room staff after Game 5pic.twitter.com/CAcdzXwKJG
– Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 17, 2024
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray struggled all night, but he didn’t give much credit to the opposition. “It was a little about [Edwards], it was about my elbow at the time,” he said after the game. “Even some passes, my arm… it was very annoying for him. He wasn’t the one watching over me. He was hitting from the other side, and he was hitting at a great rate.”
“Everybody on their team brought their game today, and we couldn’t defend them, and get them out of our paint or out of the lane,” Murray finally admitted, after being held to just 10 points. on 4-of-18 shooting.
Jokic, on the other hand, was brutally honest when the game was over. “They hit us in the butt. They were better than us in every part of the game. We need to accept it. Get drunk. And just try to be better next time,” said the champion.
“It is a great loss. They beat us and destroyed us… Actually, we got them like 9-2 points, right? It didn’t look good on them at the time, you know?” he added as he intended to say that the Wolves are invincible.
Murray has complained about his elbow injury and is hoping to make a full recovery for Sunday’s Game 7
The Nuggets guard, who was instrumental in beating the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs, revealed that he injured his elbow on screen. Unfortunately, he felt restricted throughout the battle against the Timberwolves.
“I put a numbing cream on the floor, so I didn’t have to feel it every time I stretched,” said Jamal. “But like I said, man, everybody gets hurt. Ant just got hurt, he came to play. It was just the fact that I was shooting the ball, and that’s what I do a lot, so. I never got back into my rhythm, and my team obviously needed me tonight, and I didn’t.”
However, Murray couldn’t help but lament his poor performance. “It’s disappointing. I am disappointed that I was not able to give them the proper training that I know I can,” he said.
His coach believes that he knows what to do to improve in the finals on Sunday. “First they beat us; they beat us a second time; they hit us third,” said Michael Malone. “So give them credit. They did what they had to do to keep the streak alive and bring it back to Denver in Game 7.”
