The Nuggets came from 24-point rally behind Murray in a 117-90 blowout of the Timberwolves. Abc

Nuggets, led by Murray, rallied from 24 points behind to beat Timberwolves 117-90.

In a Friday night matchup, the Denver Nuggets surged ahead in the Western Conference semifinals, overcoming a 24-point deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-90 in Game, Timberwolves 3. Nikola Jokic, a three-time league MVP, led with 24 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Michael Porter Jr. contributed 21 points. The Nuggets now lead the series 2-1, demonstrating their strength with a 14-for-29 shooting performance from beyond the arc.

"Nuggets' Dominant Comeback Led by Murray Secures 117-90 Victory Over Timberwolves"

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The Denver Nuggets made NBA playoff history as the 30th team to drop the first two games at home in a best-of-seven series.
"We've earned the right to be talked about, but we knew they were going to try and make it a series," Alexander-Walker remarked, acknowledging the competitive nature of the game.

Despite the setback, they displayed resilience and determination, a testament to Coach Mike Malone's emphasis on testing human nature and character. This win marked a crucial step forward for Denver, breaking the 100-point mark for the first time in three games against the formidable Minnesota Timberwolves defense.

 Nikola Jokic praised the team's sharpness and pace, signaling an improvement in performance. Despite Jamal Murray's earlier struggles, he bounced back, though facing a $100,000 NBA fine for an on-court incident involving a heat pack.

Following a three-day break, the stoic point guard returned revitalized, showcasing a potent mix of spot-up jumpers and graceful fadeaways orchestrated through dribble-handoffs. Despite the persistent strain in his left calf, he exhibited renewed agility on the court. The dynamic duo of Jokic and Aaron Gordon assumed significant responsibility in kick-starting the offense, thus easing the ball-handling duties for Murray.

"His teammates freed him up, but he was aggressive and saw the ball go in early. I think he does kind of relish those moments where he's the bad guy."

The defending champions not only delivered on their promise to bring back energy after their lackluster home performance but also connected on enough shots to keep the Wolves and their active rotations honest. As the whistles tightened, Wolves defensive standout Jaden McDaniels found himself limited by foul trouble.

Following their dominant victories over Phoenix and Denver in the initial two games, the Wolves faced their first reality check after their remarkable Game 2 triumph in Denver. The fervent "Wolves in 4!" chants that resonated just before tip-off were swiftly abandoned.

The Nuggets took control early, establishing a 28-20 lead after the first quarter, their most substantial advantage of the series thus far, and they continued to build on it. By late in the second quarter, they held a commanding 20-point lead.

Although the Wolves welcomed back NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert after his absence in Game 2 for the birth of his son, the Nuggets' fluid ball movement outside the paint rendered his long arms largely ineffective.

Aaron Gordon drained consecutive 3-pointers, followed by another from Porter on the subsequent possession midway through the third quarter, extending the lead to 72-50 and stifling another attempted rally by the Wolves.

As the fourth quarter kicked off, fans started to trickle out of their seats, disheartened by the string of calls going against their team. Adding to the frustration, Wolves reserves Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kyle Anderson received technical fouls during a timeout with 5:54 left for disputing with the officials.