Timberwolves vs Nuggets: the matchup, the stakes, the verdict

Nikola Jokic snapped out of his prolonged funk with a triple-double, Spencer Jones provided a key spark and the Denver Nuggets staved off elimination with a chippy 125-113 win over the injury-riddled Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their playoff series. Timberwolves vs Nuggets has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in Kenya.

Key facts

• Nikola Jokic snapped out of his prolonged funk with a triple-double, Spencer Jones provided a key spark and the Denver Nuggets staved off elimination with a chippy 125-113 win over the injury-riddled Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their playoff series.
• Jokic has triple-double as Nuggets avoid elimination with 125-113 win against Timberwolves.
• Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, front right, drives the lane as Minnesota Timberwolves centers Naz Reid, center left, and Rudy Gobert, left, defend in the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Monday, April 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski).
• Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun, center right, collects athee ball as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, front left, defends in the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Monday, April 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski).
• Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels reacts after being called for a foul in the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski).

What we know

Going deeper, Jokic has triple-double as Nuggets avoid elimination with 125-113 win against Timberwolves.

On the substance, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, front right, drives the lane as Minnesota Timberwolves centers Naz Reid, center left, and Rudy Gobert, left, defend in the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Monday, April 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski).

Beyond the headlines, Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun, center right, collects athee ball as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, front left, defends in the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Monday, April 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski).

More precisely, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels reacts after being called for a foul in the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Denver Nuggets, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski).

It is worth noting that Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, left, looks to drive past Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones, right, in the first half in Game 5 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Monday, April 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski).

By the numbers

At this stage, Minnesota Timberwolves win the best-of-seven play-off series 4-2 to reach the Western Conference semi-finals.

On a related note, Jamal Murray scored 24 points as the Nuggets, who led the NBA in scoring, enjoyed a breakout after being held under 100 points twice in Minneapolis.

Going deeper, Jokic posted his 23rd playoff triple-double, third on the career list, as the Nuggets stopped a three-game skid and played the way they did most of the regular season in securing the No.

On the substance, the Timberwolves, who trailed by 27, were without their starting backcourt of Anthony Edwards (hyperextended knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (ruptured Achilles), both of whom got hurt in Game 4, and they briefly lost center Naz Reid to a rolled right ankle late in the third quarter Monday night.

What they're saying

“It’s just a good win and then you move on,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “Tomorrow we’ll sit down and talk with the guys, get them right, give us a chance to go through things on Wednesday and try to win on Thursday.”

“I think we’re a multidimensional team that can win a variety of ways,” said Jones, who scored 20 points and keyed a third-quarter spurt that gave Denver its big cushion.

“We just ended up losing the day,” McDaniels said, “but we’re going to win the next one.”

The wider context

On a related note, the Minnesota Timberwolves will face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semi-finals of the NBA play-offs after eliminating the Denver Nuggets.

Going deeper, the Nuggets need to win the next two games to become just the 14th of 299 teams facing a 3-1 deficit to come back to win an NBA playoff series.

On the substance, Jones, who scored 11 points in the first four games of the series, had 11 in a six-minute stretch in the fourth quarter when the Nuggets pulled away.

Beyond the headlines, the Timberwolves won game six 110-98 to win the best-of-seven series 4-2.

More precisely, In a tight contest, the Timberwolves led 57-50 before Denver's Nikola Jokic scored 14 points in the third quarter to set up a close finish.

The bottom line

• The Minnesota Timberwolves will face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semi-finals of the NBA play-offs after eliminating the Denver Nuggets.
• The Timberwolves, who trailed by 27, were without their starting backcourt of Anthony Edwards (hyperextended knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (ruptured Achilles), both of whom got hurt in Game 4, and they briefly lost center Naz Reid to a rolled right ankle late in the third quarter Monday night.
• The Nuggets need to win the next two games to become just the 14th of 299 teams facing a 3-1 deficit to come back to win an NBA playoff series.
• Searches spiking right now: Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves Apr 30, 2026 Box Scores, Jaden McDaniels leads Wolves on both ends as Nuggets ousted, Nuggets-Timberwolves takeaways: Jaden McDaniels backs up his talk, as Minnesota dominates Game 3 with defense, Timberwolves 113-96 Nuggets (Apr 23, 2026) Final Score.