Jamal Murray scored 43 points, including 23 in the third quarter, and Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double as the Denver Nuggets defeated the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves 127-114 on Monday at Target Center. Murray made 16 of 29 shots and hit five 3-pointers to spark Denver’s comeback.
Jokic finished with 25 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking his third triple-double in as many games this season and bringing his career total to 167, third on the NBA’s all-time list. Tim Hardaway Jr. added 20 points and Peyton Watson contributed 12 in support of the Nuggets’ balanced attack.
Minnesota played without star guard Anthony Edwards, sidelined with a strained right hamstring, and reserve Jaylen Clark, who missed the game due to left calf tightness. Jaden McDaniels led the Timberwolves with 25 points, while Julius Randle had 24 and Naz Reid added 18.
The Timberwolves held a 65-57 halftime lead, but Murray scored five quick points at the start of the third, including a 3-pointer that gave Denver the lead at 79-78. Hardaway’s late-quarter 3-pointers extended the Nuggets’ advantage to 102-94 entering the fourth.
Minnesota cut the lead to 104-101 in the fourth, but Watson scored eight points during a 10-0 Nuggets run, including consecutive corner 3s, to secure the win. Denver dominated the boards and outscored Minnesota in key stretches despite trailing at halftime.
Last season, the Nuggets lost all four regular-season matchups against the Timberwolves, but they capitalized on Edwards’ absence to earn a decisive road victory. The win moves Denver to 2-1 on the season, while Minnesota falls to 2-2.
Denver will host New Orleans on Wednesday, and the Timberwolves return home to face the Lakers.
