NBA playoffs 2026: Nuggets, suddenly healthy, show Timberwolves and the West they’re going to be a tough out

DENVER — Ten minutes into Saturday’s playoff opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Denver Nuggets were in a bad spot.

Minnesota had controlled the first quarter on the road, forcing tough shots and miscues while limiting three-time MVP Nikola Jokić to three points and three turnovers. And Aaron Gordon — the 6-foot-8 spark plug who was a difference-maker in Denver’s 2023 championship run — was suddenly unavailable.

Advertisement

Gordon picked up his third foul while swinging his elbows and displacing Mike Conley on a post-up. Head coach David Adelman protested in frustration and picked up a technical foul.

The Nuggets went into the second quarter in a 33-23 hole and Gordon relegated to the bench. It was a make-or-break moment early in the game and the series that could have spiraled out of control.

Nuggets lean on shorthanded experience

It was also a familiar spot for these Nuggets, whose 2025-26 season has been plagued by a litany of injuries to key players. Gordon (46 missed games), Christian Braun (38), Cameron Johnson (28) and Jokić (17) all faced extended absences throughout the season.

Advertisement

This is a team that battled to the No. 3 seed in a loaded West despite those absences and learned how to play with — or without — each other depending on who was in the lineup on any given night.

So Gordon going to bench in early foul trouble? That was no big deal. The Nuggets have plenty of this kind of experience. And there was no downward spiral for Denver. The Nuggets instead chipped away at their early deficit and eventually took control in a 116-105 win.

With Gordon sitting for the entire second quarter and Jokić continuing to struggle on offense (six points, four turnovers in the first half), Denver’s offense exploded in the stanza to the tune of a 39-29 advantage to send the game into halftime tied at 62-62.

Nuggets starters Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson are all back after missing significant time during the regular season. (AAron Ontiveroz via Getty Images)

Jamal Murray, the steady Nuggets hand

Jamal Murray, who played 75 games and was…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba-playoffs-2026-nuggets-suddenly-healthy-show-timberwolves-and-the-west-theyre-going-to-be-a-tough-out-020946551.html

Author : Jason Owens

Publish date : 2026-04-19 02:09:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.