Nuggets Dominate Timberwolves in Game 1 of NBA Playoffs

Denver's home crowd fuels victory as Jokic and Murray lead the way

Apr. 18, 2026 at 3:29am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the action of a basketball game, with overlapping shapes and planes in the colors of the Timberwolves and Nuggets, capturing the energy and intensity of the playoff matchup.The Nuggets' balanced attack and Jokic's dominance overwhelm the Timberwolves in a high-energy playoff clash.Denver Today

The No. 3 seed Denver Nuggets defeated the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves 117-108 in Game 1 of their first-round NBA Playoffs series. Led by MVP candidate Nikola Jokic's 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, and a strong supporting effort from Jamal Murray, the Nuggets took care of business at home to take a 1-0 series lead.

Why it matters

This matchup features two of the Western Conference's top teams, with the Nuggets looking to make a deep playoff run behind their superstar Jokic, while the Timberwolves are seeking their third straight trip to the Conference Finals. The outcome of this series could set the tone for the rest of the Nuggets' and Timberwolves' postseason journeys.

The details

The Nuggets jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, using their home-court advantage and the energy of their fans to overwhelm the Timberwolves. Jokic was dominant, recording his 11th triple-double of the season, while Murray added 27 points on efficient shooting. Minnesota got a strong game from Julius Randle, who scored 28 points, but were unable to slow down the Nuggets' offensive onslaught.

  • The Nuggets entered the game on a 12-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the NBA.
  • This was the fourth meeting between the Timberwolves and Nuggets this season, with Denver holding a 3-1 advantage in the regular-season series.

The players

Nikola Jokic

The two-time NBA MVP had a monster game, recording 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists to lead the Nuggets to victory.

Jamal Murray

The Nuggets' star guard scored 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting, providing a strong secondary scoring option alongside Jokic.

Julius Randle

The Timberwolves' power forward led his team with 28 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Nuggets' balanced attack.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough series, but our guys came out with the right mindset and energy tonight. Nikola was dominant, and Jamal really stepped up when we needed him. It's just one game, but it's a great start for us.”

— Michael Malone, Nuggets Head Coach

“We didn't execute our game plan well enough, especially on the defensive end. Nikola Jokic is a handful, and we have to find a way to slow him down. We'll regroup and come back stronger in Game 2.”

— Chris Finch, Timberwolves Head Coach

What’s next

The Timberwolves will look to even the series in Game 2 on Thursday night in Denver.

The takeaway

The Nuggets' dominant performance at home in Game 1 showcases their championship pedigree and the challenges the Timberwolves will face in trying to upset the Western Conference powerhouse. However, this series is far from over, and Minnesota will need to make adjustments to slow down Jokic and the Nuggets' offense if they hope to advance.