Denver Nuggets change course of game by losing to Minnesota Timberwolves in third game

A single win for the Denver Nuggets was enough to change the course of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Minnesota’s 2-0 series lead and victory in both games in Denver suggested that the Nuggets were doomed and Denver would not be able to defend its title as NBA champions in the future.

Let us put this feeling aside, at least for the moment.

The Nuggets beat the Timberwolves 117-90 in Game 3 on Friday, and no matter how the series ended there, Minnesota is 2-1 and Denver can put the pressure on the Timberwolves and add more excitement to the series with a win in Game 4 on Sunday (8 p.m. ET, TNT).

Game 3 wasn’t a must-win for Denver in the traditional sense, but no team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit. It was a game the Nuggets had to win if they wanted to give themselves a chance at winning the series.

This was by far the Nuggets’ best performance of the series, and they outscored the Timberwolves through the first three quarters, building a 93-66 lead going into the final 12 minutes.

Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, coming off a rough second game – eight points on 3-of-18 shooting – and a $100,000 fine for throwing objects at a referee (and he should be thankful he wasn’t suspended), had 24 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Denver center Nikola Jokic, who won his third MVP title in four seasons on Wednesday, had 24 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists, three blocks and three steals. The Nuggets are tough to beat when Murray and Jokic are in such good form, and all five starters scored in double figures, including 21 from Michael Porter Jr.

It was the expected offensive performance from the Nuggets – 53.8% from the field and 48.3% on 3-point shots.

Denver’s worries will not be eased by a win. Murray was questionable for Game 3 with a strained left calf, and anyone who follows the Nuggets regularly can see he is not 100%. He had more than three days between Game 2 and Game 3 to rest his calf and get treatment. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (abdominal contusion) and Reggie Jackson (left calf contusion) were also questionable, and the next three scheduled games are back to every other day.

Have the Nuggets now discovered a weakness in Minnesota on their bad days? It’s the playoffs and adjustments are necessary, especially in a seven-game series with strong teams. But most of the time, a team has to play better and smarter, and that’s exactly what Denver did.

It’s difficult to knock off a defending champion, and this is the next step for the Timberwolves, who haven’t been to the conference finals since 2004. Just as Game 3 wasn’t a “must-win” for Denver, Game 4 isn’t a “must-win” for Minnesota.

“It’s just one game. We’re still behind in the series and we still have a long way to go,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone.

But the Nuggets are closer to their goal than they were four days ago.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New series? Nuggets sweep Timberwolves and avoid 3-0 deficit