The series between the Timberwolves and the Nuggets has been a battle that has lasted for years.
- Keys to the seventh game Nuggets vs. Timberwolves
- Which Jamal Murray will appear?
- Can Nikola Jokic figure out the Wolves’ defensive adjustments in Game 6?
- Will Anthony Edwards be in top form?
- Can Karl-Anthony Towns avoid foul trouble?
- Prediction of the seventh game between Nuggets and Timberwolves
- Odds for Game 7 between Nuggets and Timberwolves
- Schedule for the seventh game between Nuggets and Timberwolves
Minnesota looked poised to deliver an early knockout blow, winning the first two games convincingly. The Nuggets came back to win the next three before losing by 45 points in Game 6.
It all comes down to a win-or-go-home Game 7 in Denver. Both teams have shown that they are capable of completely dominating the other on any given night, so it really is a question of who will win.
Here are the big questions each of them must answer.
Keys to the seventh game Nuggets vs. Timberwolves
Which Jamal Murray will appear?
Murray has earned a reputation as a player who elevates his game in the playoffs. The opposite has happened this year: He has been one of the least efficient high-volume scorers in postseason history.
Jamal Murray’s true shooting this postseason has dropped to 45.8%. That’s one of the 10 worst playoff marks in the entire 3-point era (out of 569 players with at least 200 shots in a postseason).
—Zach Kram (@zachkram) May 17, 2024
His decline in shooting is understandable. Murray battled a calf injury that was clearly hampering him in Games 1 and 2 before catching fire midway through the series. He returned to his troubles in Game 6, shooting a miserable 4-for-18 after suffering an early elbow injury and playing through it.
He has been a benchmark for the Nuggets’ performance.
| statistics | Murray in wins | Murray in defeats |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 19.7 | 11.7 |
| Assists | 5.7 | 3.7 |
| GF% | 50.0% | 26.0% |
| % of 3 points | 41.7% | 26.7% |
As good as Nikola Jokic is, he can’t do it alone. The Nuggets have two days of rest before Game 7. If that’s not enough time for Murray’s elbow to recover, then they have no chance.
Can Nikola Jokic figure out the Wolves’ defensive adjustments in Game 6?
After dropping 40 points and 13 assists in a legendary performance in Game 5, Jokic looked like a mere mortal in Game 6 with 22 points and two assists in the loss.
The Wolves made some minor adjustments to contain him. Instead of switching Rudy Gobert to him, they had Jokic’s defender (usually Karl-Anthony Towns) fight through screens. That allowed Gobert to stay in a help role off the ball and avoid the one-on-one matchup that Jokic can dominate.
The Timberwolves also continued to send doubles to Jokic, forcing the ball out of his hands. That strategy worked because of how impeccable his rotations were outside of those plays.
It looks like this will be the possession Finch will film tomorrow about “how we want to protect Jokic” pic.twitter.com/GKnXkl1A8p
– Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) May 17, 2024
The rest of the Nuggets have to step up as well. They were open to Jokic’s passes, but bad decisions and bad shots doomed the team. Michael Porter Jr. needs to play better in particular. His tunnel vision has been paralyzing.
MPJ has to be better for the Nuggets to win Game 7. His decision making has been terrible, 13 turnovers and 7 assists in this series.
Shot selection and missing the easy pass have been glaring issues. pic.twitter.com/0aKRR02Rwd
—Steph Noh (@StephNoh) May 17, 2024
The Nuggets won the championship last season because Jokic was the best player but also because his teammates came out ahead when he set them up. He has done his part. He’s up to his teammates to do their thing.
Will Anthony Edwards be in top form?
Edwards had a terrifying fall in the third trimester that would have kept a normal human in the hospital for weeks. He didn’t miss a play, but he was also just 2-of-6 afterward, scoring just eight of his 27 points in the second half. Of course, the Wolves didn’t need him to score given the lead they had.
Edwards scored over 40 twice in this series. At times, he has even surpassed Jokic. When slower players like it jokic either Goalie They’ve been on him, they haven’t had a chance. The Nuggets have been using their two best defenders, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Aaron Gordon, and they have been toast.
Edwards He insisted it would be fine. for Sunday’s game. Minnesota relies on him so much that he’ll need to be as close to 100 percent as possible.
Can Karl-Anthony Towns avoid foul trouble?
Towns has done a surprisingly good job defending Jokic during this series. The Wolves have also needed his offense, particularly when the Nuggets put Gordon on Edwards and left him with the smaller Caldwell-Pope. He needs to punish that confrontation.
Foul trouble has been an issue at times during the playoffs for Towns. Edwards has pleaded with his teammate to stop buying cheap games and cited that as the reason the Wolves won Game 6.
“I think the main thing today was that he stayed out of foul trouble, like I told him in Phoenix.” Edwards said after the game.. “I cursed him. I cursed him every chance I got, bro, stop fouling.”
Towns has to avoid silly fouls at all costs. Early foul trouble could be a devastating blow for Minnesota.
Prediction of the seventh game between Nuggets and Timberwolves
How do you play against a team that just won by 45 points? Well, it’s a little more complicated when they also lost by 26, 15 and eight in their previous three games.
This Timberwolves defense is legit and the toughest test the Nuggets have had in the last two seasons. Anyone who doubts Gobert’s impact didn’t watch Game 6, where he bullied Denver into not taking shots near the rim. This will be a tough game.
Murray has been the deciding factor in this series. His elbow injury didn’t seem too serious, but that’s easy to say when you’re watching from home instead of coming across Gobert’s 258-pound frame on a screen.
Jokic and Michael Malone have figured out ways to avoid further adjustments whenever they are given a couple of days between games. The two-day break is enough time for Murray to recover a bit and for the Nuggets to hit the video room looking for counterattacks.
At the end of the day, Denver has the best player in the world. You know Jokic is going to show up. With home field advantage and some time to rest, I choose the Nuggets.
Prediction: nuggets
Odds for Game 7 between Nuggets and Timberwolves
The Nuggets are 4.5-point favorites, according to NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM.
- Spread: Nuggets +4.5 (-110) | Timber Wolves -4.5 (-110)
- money line: Nuggets -200 | Timber Wolves +165
- Below: Over 198.5 (-105) | Less than 198.5 (-115)
Schedule for the seventh game between Nuggets and Timberwolves
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | television channel |
| Sunday May 19 | Game 7 at the Nuggets | 8 p.m. | TNT, Sling |
