Tim Hardaway Jr.'s playoff struggles resurface as Nuggets face elimination

Key facts

• Tim Hardaway Jr. signed a one-year, veteran minimum contract with the Nuggets in the 2025 offseason.
• He finished third in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting after averaging 13.5 points on 45% three-point shooting.
• In five playoff games, Hardaway has shot 37% from the field and 32.9% from three.
• He played just 11 minutes in Game 5 after averaging 27 minutes in the previous three games.
• The Nuggets were -1 with Hardaway on the court and +13 without him in Game 5.
• Denver trails Minnesota 3-2 in the first-round series after a premature streamer celebration in Game 2.

A familiar playoff fade

Tim Hardaway Jr. is once again proving that his regular-season production does not carry into the postseason. After a stellar year off the bench for Denver, the 34-year-old guard has seen his shooting percentages plummet in the playoffs, reviving a reputation that has followed him throughout his career. Hardaway averaged 13.5 points per game during the regular season while shooting nearly 45% from three-point range, earning him third place in the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award. But in five playoff games, those numbers have fallen to 9.7 points on 37% shooting and 32.9% from beyond the arc. The pattern is consistent with his career splits: over 82-game seasons, Hardaway has averaged 14 points on 42% shooting and 36.5% from three; in the playoffs, those figures drop to 9.7 points on 37% and 32.9%.

Detroit's warning signs ignored

The Nuggets signed Hardaway to a one-year, veteran minimum contract in the offseason, lauded as a steal after he started for the Pistons and helped them reach the playoffs. But Detroit's willingness to let him go should have raised red flags. Last year, Hardaway's production fell off a cliff in the playoffs for the Pistons when they needed him most. Now the same scenario is unfolding in Denver, where his streaky shooting has become a liability on offense and his defense a weakness that opponents exploit. Head coach David Adelman finally appeared to recognize the issue in Game 5, reducing Hardaway's minutes to 11 after he had played 27 in the previous three games and 24 in Game 1.

Game 2 embarrassment and series shift

The Nuggets' playoff struggles were punctuated by an embarrassing moment in Game 2 at Ball Arena. After building a 19-point lead in the first quarter, Denver saw the Minnesota Timberwolves storm back to take a 110-107 lead with four minutes remaining. During a timeout called by Adelman, Ball Arena employees prematurely fired streamers in celebration, only for the Timberwolves to secure a 119-114 victory. Donte DiVincenzo hit a clutch three-pointer and a last-second dunk to seal the comeback. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 30 points and 10 rebounds, while Julius Randle added 24 points. Jamal Murray scored 30 for Denver, and Nikola Jokic posted 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. Hardaway contributed 16 points in Game 2, hitting all three of his three-point attempts, but that performance proved an outlier.

Numbers tell the story

Hardaway's playoff splits reveal a stark contrast. In Game 2, he made all three of his three-point attempts, but in the other four games combined, he has gone just 4-for-18 from deep. His overall shooting has been inconsistent, and his defensive limitations have made him nearly unplayable in critical moments. In Game 5, with Denver's season on the line, the Nuggets were outscored by one point in Hardaway's 11 minutes and outscored Minnesota by 13 points when he sat. The team looked as good as it had all series after moving away from him. The Nuggets were outscored 29-21 in the fourth quarter of Game 2 and 39-25 in the second quarter after their fast start. The series is now tied 1-1, shifting to the Target Center in Minneapolis.

A short leash ahead

Hardaway's role going forward is uncertain. Adelman may continue to give him short bursts in hopes of a hot streak, but the leash will be tight. The Nuggets cannot afford to rely on a player whose playoff production has consistently fallen short of his regular-season numbers. For his career, Hardaway has bounced around the league, never fully living up to the potential that made him a first-round pick in 2013. His one-year contract with Denver gives the team flexibility, but it also means he is playing for his next deal. The Nuggets went 26-15 on the road during the regular season, the fifth-best mark in the league, which could help them recover from the Game 2 blunder. But if Hardaway cannot find his shot, Denver may have to look elsewhere for scoring off the bench.

What comes next for Denver

The series against Minnesota is far from over, but the Nuggets face a critical juncture. After taking a 1-0 lead, they let Game 2 slip away in embarrassing fashion, and Hardaway's struggles have compounded their problems. Denver's depth was supposed to be a strength, with Hardaway providing a spark off the bench. Instead, his playoff fade has become a storyline that threatens to derail the team's championship aspirations. Adelman must decide whether to trust Hardaway in high-leverage situations or to reduce his role further. The answer may determine how far the Nuggets advance in the postseason.

The bottom line

• Tim Hardaway Jr.'s playoff shooting has dropped to 37% from the field and 32.9% from three, well below his regular-season averages.
• Denver signed Hardaway to a one-year minimum deal after Detroit let him go, ignoring his history of postseason decline.
• Hardaway played only 11 minutes in Game 5 after averaging 27 minutes earlier in the series, signaling a loss of trust from coach David Adelman.
• The Nuggets were +13 without Hardaway in Game 5, underscoring his negative impact on the court.
• A premature streamer celebration in Game 2 highlighted Denver's unraveling after a 19-point lead evaporated.
• The series shifts to Minnesota tied 1-1, with Hardaway's role a key question for the Nuggets' playoff hopes.