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Much had been said about the Nuggets lackluster performance in the three losses leading up to Monday night’s elimination game at Ball Arena. “Jokić’s legacy is on the line.” “Adelman needs to be fired before Game 5.” “This team has no heart.” “Something something CHECK OUT MY EVEN HOTTER TAKE.”

In full disclosure, I was among the chorus of online criticism following an indefensible 43-point explosion from Ayo Dosunmu in Game 4 that put the Nuggets’ back to the wall.

Making the vibes even worse, word came down not long before the game that Aaron Gordon was a scratch due to his lingering calf strain, and Peyton Watson would continue to be sidelined, as well. But in typical Nuggets fashion, they saved their best for the precise moment the NBA world turned against them.

1st QUARTER

The teams traded scores as they felt out the pace in the early going. Two quick fouls for Jaden McDaniels, though, forced the Wolves to go even deeper into their shallow bench. After Minnesota airmailed two from beyond the arc, Jokić made a quick spin move in the lane on Naz Reid, which rolled in for an and-one. The Nuggets ratcheted up the defense through the final six minutes, forcing seven turnovers by the 4:30 mark. Cam and Ayo swapped threes followed by a beautiful feed from Jokić to Tim Hardaway Jr. for a layup and a 28-19 lead. THJ then matched a Reid corner three, but Conley scored easily in transition to cut the lead to 32-26. Bones’ three further reduced the Nuggets lead as the quarter came to an end with Minnesota mitigating their turnovers by shooting 7-12 from outside.

Apr 27, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones (21) drives to the net against Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) as forward Cameron Johnson (23) and guard Jamal Murray (27) and guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) defend in the first quarter during game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

2nd QUARTER

Denver started the second with a double point guard lineup with Murray and Tyus Jones and Jonas Valančiūnas’ first appearance since Game 2. After two quick offensive fouls on Val, Kyle Anderson cut the Nuggets’ lead to 34-33. Jones stripped McDaniels on the next Wolves possession and converted over him in transition to regain momentum. Jonas’ third turnover in as many minutes led to an easy basket for Naz on the other end, and Val’s third foul gave Randle a pair before he matched it with a driving hook and cleanup of a Brown miss. Reid hushed the crowd in response with a corner three for his 8th point, keeping the Wolves in check.

Apr 27, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland (8) controls the ball under pressure from Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) and center Nikola Jokic (15) in the second quarter during game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Jokić checked back in with six minutes left as Murray got a brief rest. After missing a second three, he found Spencer in the corner for his 7th assist. Brucey B’s dunk in transition on the following gave the Nuggets a 49-42 lead and brought the crowd to its feet. Jok and Gobert then went at each other on back-to-back possessions, with 15 getting the basket while Rudy missed badly, almost leading to another transition score from Bruce. Bones’ third from deep cut the lead to six, though, with three minutes left in the half. Cam’s two driving layups over Gobert out of the two-man game gave him 11 in the half and expanded the Nuggets’ lead to 57-49. After McDaniels hit a jumper, Jokić nailed a ~30′ trey at the buzzer to get off the snide from outside and secure a 9-point halftime lead.

3rd QUARTER

The Nuggets set the tone to start the third. Murray and Ayo traded twos, but a Spencer corner three grew the Nuggets lead to 12, and then 15 on another in transition. With the lead climbing, McD took a cheap shot across Jokić’s neck after an offensive foul had already been called on Jamal, but the refs let it go. The Wolves continued to struggle on offense as Spencer Jones continued to light it up from three. CB’s hard drive leading to two FTs ballooned the lead to 74-55. Naz finally stopped the hemorrhaging with a physical drive. Jamal and Jaden traded buckets, but Bones’ missed three led to a soaring Spencer dunk on the run out, and the rout was on. McD got frustrated after another miss and picked up a silly fourth foul, sending him back to the bench with five minutes left in the third.

To add injury to insult, THJ stepped on Naz’s foot near half court, sending the big man to the floor in agonizing pain. He limped back to the locker room as Jokić made two from the line as Randle picked up his fourth foul. The third then devolved into prison ball, but Murray’s whirling, scrappy effort near the rim ended in a steal off his own turnover and a strong conversion for an and-one—the kind of superstar effort that seemed to blow the game open. CB followed with a pair of dunks, one off a steal, and Cam drove straight down the lane for another towering dunk that gave the Nuggets a 97-75 lead going into the fourth.

4th QUARTER

DA went with Valančiūnas, Bruce, Tyus, Spencer, and Murray to begin the closeout quarter. Big Val hit a jumper to open the scoring, his 8th on 4-4 shooting. Murray then hit a three despite a push-off by Val under the rim, giving the Nuggets their largest lead of the game. Jaden responded with a pair for his 11th(?)—a curiously low total for an elite scorer playing against a team that ‘can’t play any defense.’ Jok came back in around the six-minute mark and the Nuggets in control but starting to bleed. A Randle hook, Ayo layup, and Hyland driving finish quickly cut the lead to 13, prompting Coach Adelman to call a timeout.

Jokić stemmed the tide with a pair out of the timeout. But Randle bullied his way to an and-one on the other end. Back in the game, Reid hit a floater in transition to cut the lead to 10 with 4:30 left. CB then hit a momentum three followed by a Jones steal and Murray dunk in transition to expand the lead back to 15. Naz turned it over on the ensuing possession, and Jok all but ended the game with an easy lay-in and-one, capping an 8-0 run after the Wolves had stormed back from 27 down. Finch took his final timeout after Cam found Jokić for easy deuce.

Minnesota came out of the timeout sitting their remaining starters, conceding a return to Minneapolis for Game 6.

FINAL SCORE: Minnesota Timberwolves 113, Denver Nuggets 125

GAME NOTES:

  • Jokić had 10+ points and 10+ assists in a playoff half for the third time, most by any player since 1997-98 (27/12/16 on 9-15 shooting)
  • Cam Johnson had by far his best game of the series (18/6/4)
  • Minnesota finished the game with 25 turnovers