MINNEAPOLIS \u2013 The Joker\u2019s performance is no laughing matter for the Nuggets.<\/p>\n
Nikola Jokic, the engine of the NBA\u2019s best offense in the regular season, looked anything but the part in Denver\u2019s 113-96 Game 3 loss Thursday at Target Center.<\/p>\n
Minnesota leads the series 2-1.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re big, tall, long. They\u2019re really good defensive players, so they\u2019re making you shoot over them or just make extra moves,\u201d Jokic said. \u201cEspecially in the first quarter, we could not make a shot. When you open the game like that \u2026 then the easy ones are not going to go either.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matching up primarily against Rudy Gobert once again, Jokic needed 26 shots to score 27 points. The free-throw line was the only spot from which he scored efficiently, going 11 for 11. He went 5 for 16 inside the arc and 2 for 10 from 3-point range. He came out aggressive, taking six shots in the first four minutes, but he missed all of them and committed his first turnover to help Minnesota establish an early lead. The Timberwolves never trailed and went on to lead by as many as 27.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just missed. I really mean it,\u201d Nuggets coach David Adelman said. \u201cI thought the 3s were actually really good shots for the most part. The 2-point shots, as far as the face-up jumpers, getting to the rim, these are things that he\u2019s going to do. He had a tough night. It happens to players. These guys played in a million playoff games. There\u2019s nights that are poor. I think he\u2019ll bounce back.\u201d<\/p>\n
The three-time Most Valuable Player didn\u2019t have much success as a facilitator, either. He finished with four turnovers compared to three assists. The poor shooting while being covered one-on-one makes creating for others harder.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I make a little bit of shots, then the defense is going to react,\u201d Jokic said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s why I couldn\u2019t get anybody involved. \u2026 It was just one-on-one coverage. I think I needed to do a little bit better job of scoring, and then I think it\u2019s going to open up for everybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Denver](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26114078392728-1-1024x683.jpg\")
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27), right, waits for play to resume during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo\/Abbie Parr)<\/p>\n
Jamal Murray (16), Tim Hardaway Jr. (11) and Zeke Nnaji (10) were the only other Nuggets in double figures. It was an uncharacteristically rough night for the Nuggets offensively. It wasn\u2019t turnovers, as Denver finished with just 10. The Nuggets still only shot 34% from the field and 25% from 3-point range.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t exert physicality offensively to help each other out. \u2026 When we got sped up from their pressure, that led to some unorganized possessions in the first half,\u201d Adelman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not who we\u2019ve been throughout the season. Usually on those kind of nights I would come in here and say, \u2018we can\u2019t turn it over 19 times and give up 30 points.\u2019 That\u2019s not what happened today. A lot to improve on offensively.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench and led the Timberwolves with 25 points, while Jaden McDaniels backed up his talk earlier in the week with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Four other Timberwolves scored in double figures.<\/p>\n
After Adelman pulled his starters with a little more than four minutes to play, the home crowd chanted \u201cWolves in five.\u201d<\/p>\n
History is still on Denver\u2019s side, as long as the Joker gets back to his typical self. There\u2019s little doubt that will be the case in Saturday\u2019s Game 4.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe shots he took today, it wasn\u2019t like he doesn\u2019t make those every day of his life,\u201d Murray said. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen him shoot what he shot today. That\u2019s just kind of an outlier type of game \u2013 really from everybody \u2013 but we\u2019re not worried about Jok.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Nuggets have fallen behind 2-1 in a series seven times in the Jokic and Murray era. Denver ended up winning the series four times.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s first to four, and we have another great opportunity in a couple of days to regain control of it, take it back to Denver the right way,\u201d Adelman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been down 0-2, tied at 2-2. We\u2019ve been down 3-1. We\u2019ve seen all these things, so the panic is not going to be there. Without the panic, there has to be responsibility to get better for Game 4.\u201d<\/p>\n
TIMBERWOLVES 113, NUGGETS 96<\/strong><\/p>\n What happened: <\/strong>Minnesota led by 14 after the first quarter and owned a 61-39 lead at halftime. Denver shaved five points off Minnesota\u2019s lead in the second half but never threatened.<\/p>\n What went right: <\/strong>The Nuggets did their best job on Anthony Edwards so far. After scoring 22 and 30 points, respectively, in the first two games, Minnesota\u2019s star finished with 17 points on 15 shots.<\/p>\n What went wrong: <\/strong>Denver finished the first quarter with more turnovers, four, than made field goals. Denver went 3 for 21, including a 1-for-9 mark from 3 in the opening quarter.<\/p>\n Highlight of the night: <\/strong>Well, Red Panda put on a show at halftime.<\/p>\n Up next: <\/strong>Game 4 is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Target Center.<\/p>\n
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