MINNEAPOLIS-. Los Nuggets de Denver They simply have too much determination, experience, pride and talent to let their stumbles in the first two games of this series against a team on the rise define it.
That’s what is expected of a defending NBA champion: silence the rival crowd, grow louder in the face of boos and quickly regain momentum.
Jamal Murray rebounded from his poor start in the Western Conference semifinals, scoring 24 points to lead Denver to a 117-90 rout of the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 on Friday.
“Honestly, all of this just makes you better, because you have to respond,” said Murray, who was booed every time he touched the ball. “This makes you withdraw into yourself and be there for your teammates.”
Denver closed to 2-1 in the series. The Wolves became the last ranked team to suffer a loss this postseason.
Nikola Jokic, a three-time league MVP, had 24 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. Michael Porter Jr. contributed 21 points and the Nuggets made 14 of 29 3-pointers.
Anthony Edwards had a low-key 19-point night but led the Wolves, who shot just 10 of 32 from long range, including four of five by Karl-Anthony Towns.
Minnesota couldn’t supply Towns with enough shots. The Dominican-American added 14 points.
Additionally, the Wolves fumbled the ball too often in desperate attempts to drive to the basket, and were simply slower than they were in the first two games in Denver.
During the final stretch, they were even down 34 points.
“I am to blame for this defeat. I came out with no energy at all. I can’t afford to do this with my team. “I let my team, the coaches and the fans down,” Edwards lamented. “I’ll be ready for Sunday.”
Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday in Minneapolis
Source: AP
