Nuggets Take Game 1 Over Timberwolves 116–105 as Jokić Drops a Casual Triple-Double
Denver controls everything while Nikola Jokić quietly runs the entire game like it’s a practice session
The Denver Nuggets opened their playoff series with a 116–105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, and somehow the most impressive part felt routine. While Minnesota tried to keep things competitive, Denver played like a team that already knew how this game would end.
At the center of it all was Nikola Jokić, who recorded a triple-double and made it look completely normal. Points, rebounds, assists—everything was there, delivered without forcing anything. It wasn’t flashy, it wasn’t loud, it was just constant control. At this point, Jokić putting up a triple-double feels less like a headline and more like part of the pregame checklist.
Minnesota had their moments, cutting into the lead and briefly threatening to make things interesting. But every time they got close, Denver responded immediately. A quick scoring run, a perfectly timed pass, or a defensive stop—and suddenly the game felt back under control. It became clear that keeping up wasn’t the issue, staying there was.
By the fourth quarter, the Nuggets were simply managing the game. No panic, no urgency—just execution. Jokić continued to orchestrate everything, teammates played their roles, and the Timberwolves ran out of answers. It felt less like a comeback opportunity and more like watching a team slowly accept how the night was going to end.
Game 1 goes to Denver, who take a 1–0 series lead and already look locked in. If this is the version of the Nuggets showing up every night—and if Jokić continues to treat triple-doubles like routine paperwork—this series could get complicated for Minnesota very quickly.
