DENVER — The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets 117-108 in the NBA and took a significant step in the race for the top of the West, surpassing their direct rival in the standings after a solid collective performance led by Anthony Edwards.
Minnesota came out with determination on both ends of the floor and quickly found advantages through pace and ball movement. Anthony Edwards led the scoring column with 21 points, while Bones Hyland had an especially productive first half against his former team, adding 15 of his 18 points before halftime. With control of the boards and greater offensive fluidity, the Timberwolves went into the break ahead 58-50.
The third quarter widened the gap. Donte DiVincenzo connected on three three-pointers that pushed Minnesota to 83-69, forcing Denver to respond. The Nuggets cut it to five points in the late stages of the period, but each comeback attempt found an immediate answer. The visiting team maintained composure and entered the fourth quarter with a cushion.
Nikola Jokić kept Denver afloat with 35 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists, accompanied by Jamal Murray's 25 points (4 of 6 from three). A Murray penetration dunk over Rudy Gobert energized the home crowd, but Minnesota answered with five straight points and an Edwards three-pointer that made it 109-96. In the final 3:49, the Nuggets could not get closer than seven points.
With this victory, the Timberwolves complete a perfect three-game road trip and improve to 38-23, surpassing Denver in the standings in a compressed Western Conference where just two games separate third from sixth place.
Minnesota takes a direct matchup with significant implications for playoff seeding, while Denver has accumulated four losses in its last six games since the All-Star break.