Nuggets lose season opener to Timberwolves because to poor first half

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, works against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Minnesota gashed the Nuggets in transition to take a 20-point lead after Nikola Jokic committed five mistakes in the first half.

All good things must end, and the Nuggets were one of the final three NBA unblemished teams.

The Nuggets’ first major loss of the 2023-24 season came against the squad they defeated in the 2023 playoffs. The Timberwolves beаt them 110-89 on Wednesday night, their first setback.

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The ghоst of Bruce Brown

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During a podcast after the Nuggets won the title, former sixth man Bruce Brown said Minnesota was Denver’s toughest playoff opponent. The comment was seen as a slight against other Nuggets victims, although Brown may have found something legitimate before leaving.

Starting pitchers in Denver had been flawless this season until Wednesday. In their first four games together, they had 69.4% assist rate. Although inconsistent, the Timberwolves have the size and defense to make life harder for the champs.

Michael Malone called his first timeout with Denver 0 for 8 from the field and scoreless. Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert provided Nikola Jokic his body by absorbing his bumps. Early, Jaden McDaniels’ length on the wing neutralized the Nuggets’ guards, especially Jamal Murray. Michael Porter Jr. and Murray shot 1 for 14 in the first half. The score was 48-35 before they scored.

At halftime, Jokic had 17 miserable points on 16 shots and five turnovers, while the other starters had 12 points.

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Minnesota’s size may force Malone to adjust a replacement approach that worked well in Denver’s 4-0 start. Jokic and Zeke Nnaji played together for the first time this season to counter the Timberwolves’ size.

Nnaji was one of few bright spots in the first half throughout extended periods together. He scored seven early points and attacked Minnesota on the glass before slowing down statistically. Nnaji’s season has been like that: The metrics don’t reveаl a significant impact player, but Nnaji is playing hard off the bench enough to alter games when Jokic needs rest or more time on the floor to delegate.

Malone’s two most-used words

The Nuggets seldom lose games, but transition defense generally causes it. Since identifying it as an issue in the first session of training camp, Malone has spoken those two phrases the most this season, by unofficial count.

First half: Timberwolves 14-2 Nuggets in fast-break points to open 20-point advantage. Those transition scores helped them outscore Denver by 10 in the paint in the second half. In a short sample size, the Nuggets are one of the most paint-dependent оffensive teams in the NBA, so their inability to match Minnesota’s tempo and aggression—the foul line favored the home team—was expensive. Anthony Edwards scored 24 points on 15 shots with many blоw-by dunks via defensive deficiencies.