Minnesota had weathered a Denver run and got Game 4 to a seven-point game. Then the Nuggets scored eight points in the final 20 seconds.
JAMAL MURRAY FROM BEYOND HALFCOURT.
— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2024
KEVIN HARLAN IS HYPED.
Nuggets lead at halftime on TNT pic.twitter.com/PKjD1bS9CG
After Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a three-pointer, Nikola Jokic stole the ball from Anthony Edwards and found Michael Porter Jr. for a layup with a second left in the first half. If that weren't bad enough for the Timberwolves, Jamal Murray picked off Nickeil Alexander-Walker's inbounds pass and somehow drilled a shot from beyond half-court.
The result was a 64-49 halftime lead for the Nuggets. It took them 20 seconds to negate a gradual, Anthony Edwards-led comeback from Minnesota. Edwards scored 12 points in the last five minutes of the quarter, including back-to-back threes, but his late turnover opened the door for five Denver points in the final 1.1 seconds of the half.
Part of Minnesota's problem is that Murray can score even when a team plays great defense on him. Or if he's open from 55 feet away.
SPECIAL DEFENSE FROM MCDANIELS.
— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2024
MURRAY FINDS A WAY
High. Level. Basketball.#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel on TNT pic.twitter.com/ZEwpzULFgk
Minnesota's other problem is that it's hard to chip away at the lead when your opponent keeps getting wide-open dunks.
JOKIC DIME.
— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2024
JOKIC DUNK.#KiaMVP IN #PLAYOFFMODE ON TNT pic.twitter.com/zex1KXjPbn
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