Nuggets Beat T-Wolves to tie Series, Regain Western Leadership
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 11 Apr 2024
The biggest news of the day was the Denver Nuggets coming from behind to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves at home, 116-107, to tie their season series at two games each and most importantly regain the Western Conference leadership with two play dates left.
More important than climbing temporarily to the top of the West was Denver tying its season series versus Minnesota as there is a possibility of the two teams also ending up even for first in the West at the close of the season. In which case, the winner of the season series would automatically be the first placer.
That implication was not lost on the two teams as they gave everything they have got especially the visiting Timberwolves which led for much of the game, in fact for most of the first three quarters. But leading MVP of the year Nikola Jokic performed one of his best and willed the Nuggets to a stirring comeback in the third and fourth quarters to finally grab the lead which they never yield till the final buzzer.
Jokic scored 41 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and issued 7 assists to lead the Nuggets. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. supported him with 20 points and 18 points plus substantial number of rebounds and assists. Aaron Gordon made up for his measly 5 points production by corralling 5 boards and topping the team in assists with 9.
Coming off the bench, Kentavious Caldwell Pope and Reggie Jackson poured in 9 points each while Christian Braun contributed 8 markers.
Minnesota proved for the nth time that they are still a power to be reckoned even without Karl Anthony Towns as guards Anthony Edwards (25) and Mike Conley (19) anchored the T-Wolves attack with big forwards Naz Reid (13) and Jaden McDaniels (9) supporting their remaining tower Rudy Gobert (13 points 15 boards) in manning the slot.
With the win, the Nuggets regain the lead in the West with 56-24 as against the T-Wolves 55-25 and Oklahoma City Thunder also 55-25.
In the other significant games-
The Philadelpia 76ers notched their 6th straight win following the return of superstar center Joel Embiid by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 116-96 on the road. Embiid scored 30 points and Kelly Oubre contributed 17.
The win kept the Sixers at 7th place and they may not have enough games left to nudge the Indiana Pacers from the 6th position in the East.
The Phoenix Suns got back at the LA Clippers 124-108 but the damage had been done following their loss yesterday to the Clippers. Like the Sixers, the Suns have very slim chance to catch up with the New Orleans Pelicans for the 6th place in the West.
The Clippers did not even suit up Paul George in the rematch as LA was led by NaShon Hyland (37) and Brian Boston (23).
LA blanked Kevin Durant in the first quarter which ended 33-10 in beating the Suns, 105-92 yesterday in the game Phoenix badly needed to win to keep the 6th place with the Pelicans.
Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Durant delivered big numbers in today's win over the Clippers. Sadly, it was a day too late.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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