The Denver Nuggets couldn’t hold on to a nine-point fourth quarter lead on the second night of a back-to-back, as they fell to the Timberwolves 111-108 in Minnesota. Denver was seeking its fourth win in five games over a seven day span.
Denver led by nine with just over six minutes to play one night after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in Denver, but the offense that spurred them to the three wins earlier in the week wasn’t there down the stretch. Instead, the Nuggets committed three key turnovers late and missed on too many shots early in the shot clock to give Minnesota an opening. The signs of fatigue from a hectic week were there as Denver settled for long jump shots, missing on seven in the game’s final five minutes.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 32 points for the Timberwolves in the win. Gary Harris had a team-high 22 points in his first full game since Jan. 12 and Nikola Jokic fell two rebounds shy of a sixth consecutive double-double with 18 and eight.
Denver will have Monday to rest before Gordon Hayward and the Jazz come to town on Tuesday. Utah is 29-16 on the season and 13-9 on the road. The Nuggets, meanwhile, can even their home record at 11-11 with a win.
