{"id":715445,"date":"2026-04-21T22:11:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T22:11:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/715445\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T22:11:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T22:11:29","slug":"edwards-and-randle-rally-timberwolves-past-nuggets-119-114-to-even-series-at-1-apiece-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/715445\/","title":{"rendered":"Edwards and Randle rally Timberwolves past Nuggets 119-114 to even series at 1 apiece"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Monday, April 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo\/Jack Dempsey)<\/p>\n

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DENVER (AP) \u2014 A big early deficit in Denver didn’t bother the Minnesota Timberwolves, who two years ago staged the biggest Game 7 comeback in NBA history, clawing out of a 20-point hole to beat the Nuggets and advance to the Western Conference finals.<\/p>\n

This time, they overcame a 19-point deficit, rallying past the Nuggets 119-114 on Monday night behind 30 points from Anthony Edwards and 24 from Julius Randle to tie their first-round playoff series at one game each.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust coming together, staying poised within those moments,” Edwards said.<\/p>\n

Jamal Murray scored 30 points for Denver, which had won 13 straight games since losing on March 18. The Nuggets jumped out to a 44-25 lead early in the second quarter only to see a potential laugher quickly turn into a head-scratcher.<\/p>\n

After outscoring the Wolves 39-25 in the first, the Nuggets watched Minnesota flip that exact score in the second period.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, basically same quarters, first and second, just opposite teams,\u201d said Nikola Jokic, who had 24 points, 15 boards and eight assists for the Nuggets.<\/p>\n

After a slow start, Edwards looked much better than he did during his 22-point effort in Game 1, when his rust from a bum knee was apparent. This time, he drove to the basket more instead of settling for jumpers, fueling the comeback.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was awesome. It was unbelievable,\u201d Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. \u201cAlso in that (first) period when we were down, he was great on the bench. Great leadership, positive. He recognized he needed to get into attack mode and get downhill a little bit more. He did that.”<\/p>\n

Denver blew a chance to take control against its Northwest Division rival. The Nuggets are 8-0 in their history when winning the first two games of a playoff series, and the Wolves are 0-8 when dropping Games 1 and 2.<\/p>\n

Edwards turned the ball over with 31 seconds left and Christian Braun got fouled at the other end after Jokic passed up a floater to tie it. Braun missed one of two free throws, leaving Denver trailing 115-114 with 19 seconds remaining.<\/p>\n

Randle then sank two free throws and Donte DiVincenzo added a breakaway dunk to cap the comeback.<\/p>\n

\u201cI trust C.B. to make free throws,\u201d Denver coach David Adelman said. \u201cIt rimmed out. That happens in the NBA. You’re going to have moments that you don’t want to remember. That’s a tough moment for C.B. after playing such a good game.”<\/p>\n

Murray sank a 51-foot 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to tie it at 64. Jokic came on strong after a quiet start, scoring 16 points in the third quarter when Denver took a 93-90 lead. But the Nuggets’ All-Star duo shot a combined 2 for 12 in the fourth quarter as the Wolves evened a best-of-seven series that shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Thursday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like we had the game in hand,\u201d Murray said, \u201cand then we just didn’t make our shots.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jaden McDaniels, who added 14 points for the Wolves, said the key to Minnesota’s bounce-back was going “after Jokic, Jamal, all the bad defenders. Tim Hardaway, Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, the whole team, just go at them. Yeah, they\u2019re all bad defenders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before tipoff, Finch complained for a third straight day<\/a> about the free-throw disparity in Game 1, when the Nuggets outscored Minnesota 30-14 from the stripe. He cracked that maybe his players need to \u201cstart flopping, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each team went to the line 30 times Monday night.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP NBA: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nba<\/a><\/p>\n

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Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) looks to pass the ball over Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid, right, during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Monday, April 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo\/Jack Dempsey)<\/p>\n

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Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray prepares to shoot a 3-point basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Monday, April 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo\/Jack Dempsey)<\/p>\n

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Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch reacts during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo\/Jack Dempsey)<\/p>\n

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Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman reacts during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo\/Jack Dempsey)<\/p>\n

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