Mile High Sports

Recap: Nuggets blow a 19-point lead and homecourt advantage in Game 2 meltdown

Nick Hertzog

Apr 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

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Nuggets vs. Timberwolves has become one of the best rivalries in the NBA this decade. Unfortunately for fans of both teams, this particular saga features gut-wrenching runs, wild momentum swings, and head-scratching variance that makes each game a maddening anxiety bomb.

For Nuggets fans, this Game 2 might be as confusing and consequential as Game 7 in 2024. Unlike that improbable loss, though, the Nuggets live to play another game. Three more games, at least, actually, all of which promise to be just as perplexing, entertaining, and unpredictable.

Apr 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) reaches for a loose ball in front of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) in the first quarter during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

1st Quarter

Unlike Game 1, Denver landed the uppercut in the first twelve minutes. Withstanding eight early points by Julius Randle—who was clearly looking to be more aggressive offensively from the opening tip—the Nuggets built a 24-11 lead after shared scoring including a Cam three, some AG and CB transition buckets, and a Jamal four-point play. Meanwhile, Ant was noticeably hobbled after bumping knees with Nikola early, forcing the Timberwolves to bring in Bones and Ayo to try to spark some scoring. Mal responded with another four-point play to extend the lead to 28-13 with 4:00 minutes left in the first. Hyland matched with a triple, and Ant’s roll cut the lead Nuggets’ lead to 28-18.

Tim Hardaway Jr. then made himself felt to close out the quarter. He opened with a short fadeaway before drilling a three through a bad foul by Bones, which Tim converted. Naz Reid chucked a quick three, which felt like early capitulation, as did Ant’s long shot from deep that rimmed off on the next possession. THJ continued to cook, lunging into the crowd to save a rebound and drawing another foul (2/2). Gordon and McDaniels swapped layups to close out a quarter dominated by a Nuggets team that looked like it was trying to end the series in five quarters.

 

2nd Quarter

Ant, Gobert, and Reid attempted to lead a comeback with Jokic and AG resting. After Hardaway’s second three and a Murray floater for his 13th point, Edwards hit a step-back three followed by back-to-back finger rolls by Ant and Reid. After a pair of free throws and a technical on Big Val, Edwards closed the Nuggets lead to 44-34 with nine minutes left. Spencer Jones’ offensive foul led to Randle layup, completing a 12-0 Wolves run and prompting a Nuggets’ timeout as their lead dropped to 8.

With Jokić and Braun back in, Minnesota continued to chip away. Murray hit a couple of jumpers, but after Randle and McDaniels’ matched and DiVincenzo buried a wide-open three, the Nuggets’ lead collapsed to 48-43 with under 7 to go in the half. Ayo’s pullup three and Ant’s free throw (1/2) got the Wolves to within 1. Edwards’ acrobatic drive then gave the Wolves their first lead since early in the first. Jokić answered with a floater, but Donte and Ant hit from downtown to top Murray’s fourth, and Reid’s trey gave the Wolves a 60-55 lead with just over three minutes to go in the half. Randle and Ayo both scored easily on drives before Jokić finally answered 10 straight conversions with a layup. AG then found THJ for a momentum three with under a minute left, closing the gap to 64-61.

A half of crazy runs then ended with this crazy equalizer:

3rd Quarter

Murray started the third quarter the way he ended the 2nd—by hitting a three. McDaniels went to work after that, though, scoring six straight for the Wolves, giving them a one-point lead as the Nuggets struggled to score. The action got chaotic from there as the refs swallowed their whistles while both teams struggled to score through the physicality. After Gobert missed a pair of free throws, AG missed a layup, followed by Randle missing a pair at the line, leaving the score stagnated at 71-70 Nuggets. Rudy then picked up his fourth foul on an entry pass to Jokić, who responded by airing a three before making a stop and rebound on the ensuing Minnesota possession, leading to a Cam layup in transition. Donte answered with a three (a theme throughout the game) followed by an Ant layup as the lead seesawed.

Feeling the game in the balance, Jok and Ant went back and forth as neither team had an answer defensively. Nikola knocked down a pullup and pair of free throws, which Ant matched with a floater and-one. The MVP then hit a three for his 15th point, giving the Nuggets a 80-79 lead. Mal and Jokić converted on layups, which Edwards finally answered with a tip-in. Nikola’s jump hook, though, gave him 13 points in the 3rd and secured the Nuggets lead at 87-81.

Apr 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Both teams brought in three subs for the final few minutes of the quarter. Bones landed the first shot with a step-back trey. After Ayo’s tip-in, the Nuggets lead fell to two, but Jokić was fouled by Kyle Anderson in a lose-ball situation, which 15 converted for his 16th point of the quarter. THJ was then fouled on a three-point attempt but only made 1/3. Bones hit a pair. Cam matched by saving a broken handoff to finish at the rim. Murray checked back in after Hyland shot a pair, immediately turning the ball over at half-court, which led to Bones 13th point. Jokić’s three at the buzzer went long, and the Nuggets clung to a 93-90 lead heading into the fourth.

4th Quarter

Jokić and Edwards sat to open the fourth, but the benches remained aggressive. Ayo got the scoring started, followed by two Brucey B threes matched by two Naz buckets including an and-one. Reid then crossed over Cam with a nimble euro step(?), drawing a shooting foul, which he converted. Murray responded with a crafty drive over Gobert for his 30th point. Jayden’s layup kept the Wolves in check, though, 101-100 with 9 minutes left. After winning a challenge, Cam and Braun both scored as Nikola continued to sit.

With 7:56 left, Jokić and Randle checked back in with the Nuggets leading 105-100. Ant converted a drive past Jokić, and Cam picked up his fifth foul on Randle, who made 1/2. CB responded with a dunk in transition off a made free throw (14 points). Jokic blocked Gobert out of a timeout, but Randle scored after securing the rebound. Jok missed on a driving hook over Gobert, and McDaniels scored in transition on the other end. DiVincenzo then outran the Nuggets back off another Jokic miss, giving the Wolves a 110-107 lead with 4:06 remaining.

Out of the timeout, McDaniels picked up his fifth foul as Christian went up aggressively for a dunk. Gobert then picked up his fifth foul, putting the Wolves two best defenders in a bind with three minutes left. Murray missed a couple shots, though, while Gobert got away with a push-off and put-back on Jok. Gordon responded with a huge corner three to close the gap to 112-111. But DiVincenzo, again, matched with a 27-foot dagger, his fourth of the game. Jokić then posterized Rudy on the other end with just under a minute left to cut the Wolves lead to two.

After an Ant turnover, Jokić found CB down low, where he was fouled by Randle as he went up for a lay-in. Christian only converted 1/2, though, granting Minnesota a 115-114 lead with 19 seconds left. AG fouled Randle immediately on the inbound, but the big hit both, leaving the Nuggets with one final possession to extend the game. Jamal bricked a long two, and the Wolves grabbed the rebound, the win, and homecourt advantage.

Apr 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) celebrates defeating the Denver Nuggets during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

FINAL SCORE: Minnesota Timberwolves 119, Denver Nuggets 114

GAME NOTES:

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