3 Things that must happen for the Nuggets to come back vs Timberwolves

May 6, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts from the bench
May 6, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) reacts from the bench / Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next

#1.) Embrace the physicality

The most notable thing about game two was the intensity and physicality of the Timberwolves. The referees let the teams play and the Nuggets never adjusted. They didn’t know how to handle the defensive intensity of the Wolves and they got swallowed up and pretty much combusted.

The Nuggets haven’t looked that out of sorts, maybe ever. There’s no guarantee that game three will be officiated the same way as game two, but I’m sure the Wolves will come out with the same intensity.

Denver needs to be ready to handle that pressure and to meet them at the level. They need to be the more aggressive team and the one who throws the first punch. If this is how the games are going to go, the Nuggets need to go on the attack.

They can’t sit back and wait for the refs to save them, as that clearly didn’t happen in game two. If the Nuggets allow the Wolves to keep dictating the game, they are going to fall into the same trap. Now they’ve seen it though. There are no excuses for Denver to not come out throwing the first punch. If they let frustrations and emotions get the best of them again, this series is over.