Murray has 40 points, Nuggets beat Timberwolves for 2-0 lead

DENVER (AP) —Jamal Murray never had this type of performance with such anear-splitting soundtrack to go with it.

Murray scored40 points and Michael Porter Jr. had 13 of his 16 in the fourthquarter, powering the Denver Nuggets past the MinnesotaTimberwolves 122-113 on Wednesday night for a 2-0 lead in the NBAplayoff series.

Murray hadn’tever produced even a 30-point playoff game at Ball Arena — his two50-point postseason performances came in the NBA bubble in Floridain 2020.

“It’s nice,”Murray said. “It’s nice having a crowd. They got me going. Thatfires us up and gives us a lot of life even when we’re not playingour best.”

Nuggets coachMichael Malone called it a “passionate, heartfelt performance,” andhe gave Murray a big hug when he brought him out in the closingseconds and implored the crowd to show its appreciation.

“I knew theywould anyway, our fans are great,” Malone said. “But just to rewardhim and acknowledge the effort he just gave forth. He left a pieceof him out there tonight.”

Nikola Jokicadded 27 points, nine assists and nine rebounds for the Nuggets,who blew an early 21-point lead and trailed 89-87 heading into thefourth quarter.

AnthonyEdwards had 41 points for the Wolves, who shot a sizzling 81% inthe third quarter to erase a 64-59 halftime deficit.

“They werethe aggressors in that moment,” Jokic said. “I think in thatsituation we just need to relax and play the right way.”

Minnesota hadshot just 39% in the first half, just slightly better than it didin a29-pointlossin the series opener Sunday night.

“We knew atsome point we’d see the aggressive, attacking Timberwolves,” Malonesaid. “In that third quarter we saw it and they played great and wedidn’t defend in the third quarter, but I was proud of how weresponded in that fourth quarter.”

The seriesshifts to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday night.

The Nuggets’recovery began in the fourth quarter with Porter scoring eightstraight points — on a four-point play, a reverse layup and twofree throws — but the Nuggets couldn’t shake the energized Wolves,who clawed back and went ahead 99-98 on an Edwards’ jumper.

Porterreplied with a 3-pointer that restored Denver’s lead for good.

“We can’twait until we go down 20 or 15 in the first half and try to figureout how to get back into the game,” Edwards said. “If we foundsomething tonight, we’ve got to stick with it first quarter.”

Rudy Gobertscored 19 points but was whistled for a technical foul whilearguing his fifth foul, a shove in Jokic’s back. It was teammateKyle Anderson — whom Gobert punched in the Timberwolves’ finalregular-season game — who calmed down Gobert.

Murray ledthe counterpunch to Minnesota’s big third-quarter run, something hecouldn’t do the last two postseasons as he recovered from a tornleft ACL.

“That wastough,” Murray said, “just sitting down watching.”

And onlydreaming of nights like this.

RARIFIEDAIR

This is thefirst time the Nuggets have taken a 2-0 lead in a series underMalone.

“What we haveto do is not be satisfied,” Malone said. “If you’re going to be agreat team, you’ve got to be selfish. Be selfish ... man. Let’s goup and get Game 3. Let’s not be complacent.

“That was mybiggest concern coming into tonight and it will be an even biggerconcern going into Game 3. We know it’s going to be a crazyenvironment there. Their fans have been asking for Denver. Well,here we come.”

TIP-INS

Timberwolves:Karl-Anthony Towns scored 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting. In theseries, he has scored 21 points on 8-for-27 shooting. Edwards made6 of 10 3-pointers, same as Murray.

Nuggets:Denver outscored Minnesota 19-3 on fast breaks in the first halfbut finished with just a 19-16 advantage. ... Murray scored a quick14 points as the Nuggets hit 10 of their first 15 shots in thefirst quarter.