Report: Timberwolves Have Stolen Nuggets’ Soul

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NBA: Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Timberwolves went up 3-1 in their first round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night at Target Center, an eventual 112-96 victory, in a game that lacked competitiveness most of the second half.

Oddly enough, that was the half Minnesota played without superstar Anthony Edwards (left knee) and two-way starting wing, Donte DiVincenzo (right achilles) — who entering Game 4 leading the Wolves this postseason in steals per game (2.3), assists (5.0) and 3PT% (50%).

Minnesota Timberwolves beat down Nuggets, despite devastating injuries

Donte went down in the first minute of Saturday’s game and the severity was apparent immediately. As soon as DiVincenzo went down, he waved over Timberwolves trainers as slow motion replay simultaneously showed his achilles tendon snapping underneath his compression pants just seconds earlier.

Then, midway through the second quarter, Anthony Edwards jumped up to successfully defend a Cam Johnson layup. Unfortunately, landed awkwardly, suffering a hyperextended left knee that looks extremely painful on replay.

DiVincenzo was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game, and anyone who watched replay of his injury knew his 2026 postseason fate was sealed. When Ant stayed back in the locker room to start the second half, hope was slim inside Target Center.

For good reason, anxiety on social media among Minnesota Timberwolves fans was nearing all-time levels at halftime. In fact, a second-half collapse felt inevitable without Ant and Donte in the lineup.

More Wolves Playoff News: Nuggets Respond to Jaden McDaniels

But then, the game started back up… and to everyone’s surprise, the Wolves jumped all over the Nuggets with a kind of fire their road opponent was not prepared for.

And even without their 24-year-old superstar — and void of their best postseason shooter — the MN Timberwolves never came close to losing their lead in the second half, instead landing haymaker after haymaker on a Nuggets team that was NOT prepared for the onslaught.

Ayo Dosunmu, Wolves steal Nuggets’ soul

No Wolf punched harder than trade deadline acquisition Ayo Dosunmu, who went completely out-of-body in Game 4, scoring 43-points to go with 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block. He also went a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line and an even more impressive 5-of-5 from deep.

Meanwhile, Rudy Gobert continued his suffocating defense on Nikola Jokic, whose frustration boiled over before the final buzzer, when Jaden McDaniels converted a fastbreak layup in the closing seconds that Denver’s multi-time MVP did NOT appreciate.

But really, Jokic wasn’t upset with McDaniels for stealing a couple late points, or even breaking basketball’s unwritten rules. What he’s really mad about… is the Minnesota Timberwolves stealing his team’s soul, which is what The Athletic’s Jason Quick believed happened in Game 4.

Four games in, and the Denver Nuggets still don’t have an answer for how to handle Minnesota’s defense.

The long arms. The annoying bumping. The never-give-an-inch tenacity of the Wolves has aggravated and distracted what was the NBA’s best offense in the regular season. Plain and simple, the Wolves have stripped more than balls away from the Nuggets: They’ve stolen their soul.

Jason Quick – The Athletic

Can the MN Timberwolves win without Anthony Edwards?

Can the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the NBA Playoffs and advance to the Western Conference Finals for the third-straight season, if Anthony Edwards is not available?

It’s difficult to answer “yes” to that question, with a straight face. However, this team did prove Saturday night that they have the talent and internal fire to do things that most around the league would not expect, if they can continue to play suffocating defense.

More Timberwolves: Rudy Gober Not Happy about DPOY Snub

But if you ask the reporters who are covering this series in Denver, the Nuggets may not have enough life left to battle back from the 3-1 hole they have dug, even without two of Minnesota’s best players in the lineup.

Because the Timberwolves have seemingly broke them, mentally.

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