During Game 1 between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves, the latter squad got off to a hot start. With a goal to slow down the MVP candidate, Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, and the Timberwolves posed a real threat with their defensive attack early on.
Once adjustments were made by Denver, the game shifted. Nikola Jokic didn’t go off in the scoring department, as he tends to do against Minnesota, but he had a signature triple-double, which got the job done.
The Nuggets center dropped 25 points, along with putting up 13 rebounds and 11 assists.
Despite the triple-double and the win, the Nuggets seemingly haven’t hit the Timberwolves’ confidence at all after one game. Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels assessed Rudy Gobert’s game against Jokic and the Nuggets and sent a clear message about his center’s performance.
Timberwolves Star Sends Clear Message to Nuggets
via Dane Moore on X: Asked Jaden McDaniels about Rudy Gobert’s Game 1 — defending Jokic and helping the offense.
“That’s all Rudy. Rudy did a good job the whole game just guarding him and taking the challenge. And that’s what we need every time we play against Jokic is Rudy coming to compete. That’s the best game we had from Rudy all year… Both ends he did a good job. If he keep doing that, we gonna win.”
Gobert wrapped up the game with one steal and 10 rebounds on the defensive end of the floor. Offensively, the veteran center produced 17 points and two assists.
The big man’s performance wasn’t enough to will the Timberwolves to a win, but they clearly feel like they are in a good spot heading into Game 2.
The Nuggets Are In A Good Spot
Despite the Timberwolves oozing with confidence, the Nuggets are in a good spot.
They still have the home-court advantage and can head into Minnesota with a two-game lead if all goes well on Monday, April 20.
The Timberwolves and the Nuggets are scheduled for a 10:30 PM ET tip on Monday. The game will mark the sixth meeting between the two teams this year. Denver has won four out of five so far.