The Denver Nuggets kept their playoff hopes alive with a 125-113 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round series on Monday.
Facing elimination, Denver leaned on its biggest star as Nikola Jokić delivered a dominant triple-double performance — 27 points, 16 assists, and 12 rebounds — to guide his team. It marked his 23rd career playoff triple-double, placing him third on the all-time list behind Magic Johnson and LeBron James.
After struggling in previous games, Jokić returned to form with sharper offensive movement and improved efficiency, overcoming the defensive pressure of Minnesota’s big men, including Rudy Gobert. Nuggets coach David Adelman summed it up simply, saying, “Jokić is Jokić.”
The Timberwolves, leading the series 3-2, were significantly weakened by the absence of injured starters Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Despite the setback, Minnesota showed resilience but struggled to match Denver’s firepower and composure.
A decisive third quarter proved to be the turning point. The Nuggets outscored Minnesota 37-24 in that period, building a commanding 97-75 lead heading into the final quarter. Spencer Jones emerged as a key contributor, scoring 20 points, including 11 in the third quarter, while Cam Johnson added 18 points in a well-rounded performance.
Jamal Murray also played a crucial role, finishing with 24 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and four steals. With added support from Tyus Jones handling the ball, Murray found greater offensive freedom and delivered one of his most complete performances of the series.
Minnesota attempted a late comeback, cutting the deficit to 10 points midway through the fourth quarter, but turnovers proved costly. The Timberwolves committed 25 turnovers, which Denver converted into 35 points — a decisive factor in the outcome.
Despite the loss, Minnesota had multiple contributors. Julius Randle led the scoring with 27 points, while Ayo Dosunmu added 18. Jaden McDaniels, Bones Hyland, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Naz Reid also chipped in with double-digit efforts.
With the series now at 3-2, the Timberwolves still hold the advantage, but momentum has shifted. Game 6 in Minneapolis will be crucial as Denver looks to extend the series, while Minnesota aims to close it out and complete another upset run.
