Denver, CO

Nuggets-Timberwolves: 5 takeaways from Denver’s Game 3 answer

Published

2 years ago

May 11, 2024

Press Room

Nuggets-Timberwolves: 5 takeaways from Denver’s Game 3 answer

Jamal Murray rediscovered his groove, as did the Nuggets in Game 3.

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MINNEAPOLIS — You could see this kind of night coming from here to, well, Denver.

With their season and 2023 championship defense essentially on the line, the Nuggets responded in this surprisingly one-sided Western Conference semifinal Game 3 with force and conviction. Whether or not the series will take a drastic turn will be determined Sunday (8 ET, TNT).

But there’s at least a sense of suspense after the Nuggets won Game 3 breezily and showed plenty of flex and, well, desperate unwillingness to fall three games down. It was a blowout from the jump, with the Nuggets keeping a double-digit lead for much of the game and winning by 27 points at the buzzer.

There was plenty of Jamal Murray and shot-making from the Nuggets and lots of shoddy stretches at both rims by the Wolves. As a result, Minnesota lost for the first time in seven games in these playoffs as their lead in this series was cut in half by a dominant and determined Denver response.

It was the largest Game 3 margin of victory by a team that dropped the first two games at home in postseason history, and especially impressive coming off a 26-point Game 2 loss.

Here are five takeaways from the Nuggets’ 117-90 win, and a series that’s now 2-1 Minnesota:

1. Murray in a hurry to respond

The Target Center fans booed Murray right from the introductions, mainly because he was actually in the introductions.

More than a few were unhappy that Murray was allowed to play at all; he dodged a suspension (but not a fine) from the league office for throwing items on the floor in Game 2.

Without Murray, the Nuggets don’t win this game. That’s because this was the best result from Murray throughout these playoffs. Until Friday, he was mostly reckless and inefficient — even in the Laker series when he hit big game-deciding jumpers.

Murray was obviously on a mission to change all that in Game 3. Lucky for him, the three off-days after Game 2 helped his sore calf.

Murray, Nuggets bounce back with Game 3 rout

Three days off did wonders for Jamal Murray, who scores 24 points on 11-for-21 shooting in Denver’s 117-90 victory.

Consequently, Murray was frisky from the first quarter, zipping between double-teams, stepping back for jumpers, getting 18 of his 24 points by halftime, and taking control of the game.

Murray now has only one off-day before Game 4, so the calf muscle could once again be an issue.

“This is probably the best it’s felt going into a game,” he said, “But it tightened up a bit at the end.”

2. Minnesota makes a return to earth

Really, these playoffs represented the best the Wolves could offer. Their defense was historic, Anthony Edwards volcanic, and their depth simply wore down the Suns in the first round and, through the first two games of this semifinal, the Nuggets.

But this was a not-so-welcome-back to normalcy for a team that, while certainly solid and a contender, came with flaws. And those issues haunted the Wolves in Game 3, mainly on the offensive end.

Minnesota couldn’t shoot straight from deep, failed to match the Nuggets’ sense of urgency and never generated any traction to battle back from its first real deficit in the playoffs. Furthermore, the sellout crowd was never a factor, and fans began beating traffic home halfway through the fourth quarter.

“I haven’t seen a team win 16 straight in the playoffs,” said Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns. But, he added, “We just have to be a better version of ourselves. We weren’t tonight.”

Other than Towns, the Wolves shot 5-for-28 on 3s, scored just 41 points in the first half and allowed the Nuggets to roam free offensively — a near-reversal from Minnesota’s decisive Game 2 win.

“Our decision making wasn’t there, general movement wasn’t there,” said Wolves coach Chris Finch. “Not a lot of good things on either end of the floor.”

3. Nuggets crack Wolves’ code with deep shooting

A game ago the Nuggets were completely flummoxed by the Wolves’ pressing and trapping. It stripped away everything Denver does well — especially shooting.

That changed abruptly on Friday. The Nuggets’ aim was true all night; they made nearly half of their 3-point shots and connected on 54% overall for the game, especially impressive given the quality of defense usually played by the Wolves.

The beauty of the Nuggets is their calm and deliberate pace, fostered by a sense of familiarity and ability to find the open man. This is a product of an organically-grown team — an offense that works like a Swiss timepiece — run by Nikola Jokic, perhaps the finest passing big man in history.

None of this was evident last Monday when the Nuggets unraveled, shot 35% overall and 30% from deep while looking nothing like the team that raised the trophy a year ago.

But that was then. One game can change the flow of a series suddenly, and in that sense, the Nuggets aren’t taking too much from Game 3.

“We’re far from doing anything to celebrate,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone.

4. McDaniels’ fouls were a factor

It was a subtle development involving a player who seems to work in the shadows, and it helped the game get away from the Wolves.

When swingman Jaden McDaniels developed early foul trouble, the Wolves were stripped of arguably their most important defender. That’s how much McDaniels’ value has grown, not only in this series, but all season, actually.

McDaniels is tasked with being a speed bump for Murray, and through two games he did that job well — Murray never drew blood from the Wolves. Then came Friday. Murray brought the energy, and so did McDaniels, though maybe too much.

His fouls limited McDaniels to only seven first-half minutes, and by then, the Nuggets and Murray were in control, up 15 points and cruising.

5. Nuggets regain swagger

This 48-minute performance by the Nuggets looked familiar. As in, it looked like last year’s team that had few hiccups on the way to a championship.

That team hadn’t appeared in the 2024 playoffs, until now. Even though the Nuggets swept the Lakers in the first round, they trailed at halftime of each game, then scrambled to win all four.

The first two games in this series were forgettable, especially Game 2, when their body language was foul in a 26-point loss.

The Nuggets were consistent in this respect: they remained tough on the road. They’re now 8-4, stretching back to last postseason.

So they reached back for a 2023 throwback and it agreed with them Friday. The ball moved, Jokic went for 24-14-9, Murray bounced off screens and defenders and the Nuggets kept the Wolves on a treadmill.

“That was Denver Nuggets basketball,” Malone said.

Malone cited his team’s rally from a pair of 3-1 deficits in the bubble as proof of its mental toughness, and also spliced together chatter of Denver doom over the last three days by TV talk shows as motivation.

“Our guys answered the bell,” Malone said. “They still believe.”

* * *

Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.

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Denver, CO

Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets: Recap and final score

Published

6 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets: Recap and final score

In a game that was over in the first quarter, the Denver Nuggets destroyed the Utah Jazz 135-112. The score isn’t even indicative of how the game went. To start the game, the Nuggets went on a massive run, leaving the Jazz down by 27 points in the middle of the 1st quarter. For the Jazz, it’s surprising just how different they are on the road versus at home. At home, the Jazz are 7-9 while they are 3-9 on the road. This game was a perfect example. The Jazz looked like they got Monstar’d in the first quarter, and there was no way for them to recover the rest of the game. It’s a sign that this Jazz team, as competitive as they’ve mostly been at home, is not there yet as a competitive team.

There were a few things on this one to build on, but some things to be concerned about. Keyonte George was able to calm down after a shaky start and was able to shoot a respectable 7/14 from the field and 2/4 from three. He also grabbed 8 boards and dished out 7 assists. George looked the most in control of anyone on the Jazz during the loss. It’s one of those signs that George is evolving into a great player who will perform at a high level regardless of whatever situation he’s in.

For things to be a little concerned about? Lauri Markkanen continues not shoot the three well. Tonight he was 2/9 from three and is now shooting 35.2%. Overall, Markkanen shot it well from the field at 10/20, but it would be nice if that three-point shot started falling more consistently. It’s the skillset that sets Markkanen apart but it’s not really showing up again this season. Last season, Markkanen ended the year at 34.6%. Is this the reflection of a season being thrown again, or is this just what Markkanen is as a shooter?

Probably the biggest concern of everything is the defense. Yes, you’re playing against Nikola Jokic, but the Jazz came into this one as the #29 defense in the league. So many times in this one, you have defenders playing off shooters and not able to defend shooters. And we’re not talking drive-and-kick-type plays, these are one-pass-away possessions that are getting open threes. It’s not the best sign for this team, ever being a high-level defense. Maybe they’re not trying as hard with the obvious tank that now appears to be happening, but it would be nice to see some better outcomes with the defense on nights like tonight. That said, the best thing for this team, after a game like tonight, is to add more talent to the roster. Fixing the defense is something they’ll worry about more next season. But it’s definitely something to watch as the season goes on, and pay attention to who is able to make an impact defensively.

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Denver, CO

Denver Broncos Week 18 opponent just lost a huge defensive contributor

Published

18 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Denver Broncos Week 18 opponent just lost a huge defensive contributor

The Denver Broncos saw their 11-game winning streak end thanks to the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was a pretty brutal performance all the way around from Denver, but thanks to that 11-game winning streak, the Broncos were actually able to lose a game – they could afford a loss, if that makes sense.

Even with the Bills, Chargers, and Patriots all winning in Week 16, the 12-3 Broncos are still atop the AFC West and atop the AFC. All Denver has to do is win their final two games, and both things will be clinched. With Denver slowly beginning to battle key injuries, getting that first-round bye could be massive for the health of the team.

With the Kansas City Chiefs likely starting a third-string QB in Week 17, you would like to think that Denver can take care of business and get to 13-3, which could set up a massive showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers for the division title. Well, that game just got a bit more interesting, as a key Chargers’ defensive player was just suspended.

Chargers lose starting linebacker Denzel Perryman to a two-game suspension

Here is the update from Tom Pelissero:

Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman has been suspended without pay for two games for repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, including during Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 22, 2025

Denzel Perryman is a starting linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers and was essentially suspended two games for not playing a clean, safe version of football. This obviously means that Perryman is not suiting up for the remainder of the regular season, but will be back in time for the playoffs.

Perryman, 33 years old, is on his second stint with the Chargers and has now played in 10 games this year. In those 1- games, he’s racked up three passes defended, 47 total tackles, and four tackles for loss. Perryman is definitely more of a tone-setter on the defensive side of the ball and not someone who is going to make those hyper-athletic splashy plays that some linebackers can make.

This is huge for the Chargers’ defense, a very good unit thanks to defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, but the personnel on that side of the ball aren’t super talented. The Chargers are one of those teams that honestly benefit more from great coaching than they do having more talent than the opponent.

The Bolts can still win the AFC West, but they would have to win their final two games. Not having Denzel Perryman for a massive Week 18 showdown in Denver is flat-out massive and a huge blow to their defense.

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Denver, CO

Win over Broncos should allow Jaguars to think about ‘super’ heights

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Win over Broncos should allow Jaguars to think about ‘super’ heights

The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Denver Broncos 34-20, ending the Broncos’ 11-game winning streak.
Jacksonville’s victory has positioned them as a potential Super Bowl contender in the AFC.
Coach Liam Coen used comments from Broncos coach Sean Payton about Jacksonville being a “smaller market” as motivation.

DENVER — Time to recalibrate our expectations for this Jacksonville Jaguars team. Time to set a higher bar. Time to think about bigger things. Time to talk about goals beyond an AFC South title.

Like Super Bowl things.

How can you not after watching the Jaguars beat the Denver Broncos 34-20 at the cauldron known as Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, Dec. 21? It was impressive and thorough and workmanlike, how the Jaguars ended the Broncos’ 11-game winning streak and handed them their first home loss in more than a year.

The Jaguars should believe a division title — they lead the Houston Texans by a game — isn’t enough.

The Jaguars should feel winning a first-round playoff game is only the beginning of a magical run in January/February.

And the Jaguars should be confident regardless of whether they have to return to Denver or play at New England next month.

“The fight of this team,” veteran receiver Tim Patrick said as he shook his head. “It was our first time this year going back and forth against somebody and battling and the continued will to execute at a high level when the pressure was on, I’m definitely proud of the guys.”

Welcome to the party, Jaguars. The Super Bowl Contender Party.

Hey, New England, Denver and Buffalo in the AFC and the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle, Philadelphia and Chicago in the NFC, make a place at the table for the Jaguars, who have won 11 games in a season for the first time since 2007 and have a six-game heater for the first time since 1999.

They … have … arrived.

“It’s not about ‘arriving’ — I knew what we had in OTAs (last spring),” cornerback Jourdan Lewis said. “I guess the rest of the league (now) understands who we are.”

Coen doesn’t care about narrative

Opponents should understand the Jaguars are hitting a new stride in their passing game (three touchdowns for quarterback Trevor Lawrence), have myriad play-makers (take a bow, receiver Parker Washington) and are all kinds of opportunistic on defense (two more takeaways).

But maybe to spice things up and feed the internal narrative that nobody believe in them, Jaguars coach Liam Coen found a new target last week: Broncos coach Sean Payton.

During the week, Payton said of the Jaguars: “It’s a smaller market, but you see a real good team.”

Not sure what being a smaller market has to do with winning in the NFL with revenue sharing and the salary cap, but Payton tends to stir the pot, even if it isn’t on purpose.

You really never know where Coen is going to take a press conference. To get the briefing going, I threw out an innocuous, big-picture question about all three phases contributing to the win. (And they did. The special teams was lights out.)

“Great team effort,” Coen began.

But then, he couldn’t help himself.

“Just thankful that a small-market team like us can come into a place like Mile High and get it done,” Coen continued.

Boom. I asked Coen if it really was a rallying cry.

“You know … yes. Yeah,” he said.

Whatever works. Back in Week 4, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was the figurative bullseye. Being a home underdog to Indianapolis two weeks ago was noted. Entering this game, it was Payton.

Manufactured motivation has been a part of sports at all levels since the first newspaper was published and first microphone was turned on to gather audio.

Look, as I talked to a long-time team employee earlier this month about, the Jaguars won’t get their desired respect even if they won the Super Bowl. The headlines outside Jacksonville the next morning would be more about the losing team.

Coen kinda embraces it, but sorta not.

“We don’t really care about the narrative,” he said. “I want that narrative to keep coming. It’s only helping us.”

Team getting better each week

You know what’s really helping the Jaguars? They’re a darn good team. A team improving each week.

This is why I won’t make a habit of writing the “Nobody believes in us. Nobody respects us,” card. I’ll leave that to players, coaches and fans.

What should be the focus is how the Jaguars took the lead over Denver for good with 4:33 left in the second quarter, part of a stretch where they outscored the Broncos 27-7.

Against the Broncos’ league-best red zone defense, the Jaguars went 4 of 5.

Against the Broncos’ league-best third down defense, the Jaguars went 8 of 15.

And against the Broncos’ league-best pass rush, the Jaguars gave up five sacks, but for a total of 14 lost yards.

The Jaguars offense is borderline unstoppable with a league-high 12 games of at least 25 points.

After consecutive punts to open the game, the Jaguars went touchdown, punt, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, touchdown and field goal to take control.

After allowing a Denver touchdown, the Jaguars’ defense went field goal, punt, touchdown, punt, fumble, field goal and interception over the next seven possessions.

As we head toward Christmas, this Jaguars season — unexpectedly entertaining and successful — is presenting you, the fans, the best kind of present. And it’s a ride that may not end until mid-February in Santa Clara, Calif.

“My expectations were already high,” Patrick said. “This was just another stop.”

Just another stop, but a huge stop on the way to the Super Bowl.

Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com

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