By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A dominating display for the Minnesota Timberwolves en route to a 106-80 victory against the Denver Nuggets in Ball Arena and a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2024 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel on Monday.
French Rudy Gobert missed Game 2 of a best-of-seven series after returning to Minneapolis to welcome his first son, but the team coached by Chris Finch delivered an impressive defensive showing, limiting the hosts to 29/83 field goals. Entering with his side in a commanding lead down the stretch, naturalized Bosnian Luka Garza logged two points and one assist over three minutes. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns shared a game-high 27 points.
With the defending champions falling into an 0-2 hole, Serbian Nikola Jokic posted a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double to go with eight assists and one block over 39 minutes. Held to 38% from the field, he added to shooting struggles for the team coached by Michael Malone against the defense of the relentless Wolves. Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (left knee surgery) remained sidelined.
Anunoby and Hartenstein score 13 points each
Earlier in Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks rallied past the Indiana Pacers for a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals series. Scoring 43 points and becoming the fourth player with four straight 40-point showings in the Playoffs, Jalen Brunson fueled a win, 121-117, in Game 1.
British O.G. Anunoby threw in 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals. German Isaiah Hartenstein added 13 points, including a long buzzer-beater to end the first half, six rebounds, and four assists. Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic (left foot surgery) was sidelined.