Timberwolves Cry Foul on Nuggets' Jamal Murray's Dominance

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch says they need to defend Murray better after his standout performance.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 6:32am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and scoring actions of Nuggets guard Jamal Murray during a basketball game against the Timberwolves, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape.Jamal Murray's scoring prowess overwhelms the Timberwolves' defense, exposing their need for better strategies to contain elite opposing players.Denver Today

The Minnesota Timberwolves were unable to stop Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray in their recent playoff matchup, with Murray putting on a dominant scoring display. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch criticized his team's defense on Murray, saying they need to find a way to better guard the Nuggets star.

Why it matters

The Timberwolves' inability to contain Murray was a key factor in their playoff loss to the Nuggets. As division rivals, the two teams will likely meet again in future postseasons, making it crucial for the Timberwolves to figure out how to defend Murray more effectively.

The details

Murray scored 35 points in the game, making a series of impressive shots and moves to get past the Timberwolves' defense. Finch acknowledged that his team struggled to contain Murray, saying they need to try different defensive strategies and assignments to try to slow him down.

  • The Timberwolves and Nuggets faced off in the 2026 NBA playoffs.

The players

Jamal Murray

A star guard for the Denver Nuggets who had a dominant scoring performance against the Timberwolves in the playoffs.

Chris Finch

The head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, who criticized his team's defense on Jamal Murray.

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What they’re saying

“We couldn't shoot him with a blue arrow. He made Ant-Man look like Can't-Man. We need to find a way to better guard him.”

— Chris Finch, Head Coach, Minnesota Timberwolves

What’s next

The Timberwolves and Nuggets will likely meet again in future NBA playoffs, giving the Timberwolves a chance to adjust their defensive strategy against Jamal Murray.

The takeaway

The Timberwolves' inability to contain Jamal Murray's scoring outburst highlights the need for them to find more effective ways to defend elite opposing players if they want to advance deeper in the playoffs.