Timberwolves 112-96 Nuggets (Apr 25, 2026) Game Recap
MINNEAPOLIS — — When the Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Ayo Dosunmu From Chicago in February, they anticipated to get a robust defender and savvy offensive participant. If he needs to be an elite scorer, they’re going to take that, too.
Dosunmu scored a career-high 43 factors, stepping up after leg injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo with the highest-scoring playoff efficiency by a reserve in 50 years, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 112-96 on Saturday night time to take a 3-1 sequence lead.
“Ayo was just out of this world, man,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch stated. “Just play after play after play.”
Dosunmu made 13 of 17 photographs, going 5 of 5 from 3-point vary, and all 12 of his free throws in a season-high 42 minutes.
“He goes places quick. He’s an unbelievable finisher. He makes big shots,” Finch stated. “He’s not afraid. Just was going to ride him until he collapsed, really.”
It was the most effective efficiency by a sub since Fred Brown scored 45 off the bench for Seattle in a 116-111 loss to Phoenix on April 15, 1976.
“I know it sounds cliche, but I can’t and won’t take this moment for granted,” Dosunmu stated, “because I understand how long and how hard it is to get here.”
The sport ended with the ejections of Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Minnesota’s Julius Randle after Jokic turned indignant when Jaden McDaniels made a meaningless layup with 2.1 seconds remaining and confronted the Wolves’ swingman close to his bench.
Jamal Murray LED Denver with 30 factors. Jokic added 24 factors, 15 rebounds and 9 assists. The Nuggets have been simply 6 for 27 from 3-point vary.
The Wolves have received the final three video games and might finish the sequence in Game 5 on Monday night time in Denver.
“I expect us to have a great effort in Game 5,” Nuggets coach David Adelman stated. “I really trust our two best players will find a rhythm, and they have to find that at home.”
Jokic and Murray were 6 of 24 from the field in the second half.
“We had the opportunity to score easier, get open looks, and we didn’t,” Jokic stated. “And within the fourth quarter the momentum is on their aspect. They have been making photographs, they have been taking part in with some vitality and we did not have that.”
The Nuggets led by seven in the third quarter before the Timberwolves used a disruptive defense to get back into the game. Bones Hyland and Dosunmu scored breakaway layups on consecutive possessions after Minnesota forced the Nuggets to turn it over near halfcourt — two of nine second-half turnovers for the Nuggets.
Randle added a steal and fast-break dunk to put the Wolves up by four after three quarters.
Dosunmu had another steal and layup as part of a 9-0 run early in the fourth quarter that gave Minnesota a 95-82 lead. The basket that pushed the lead into double digits was a 3-pointer by 38-year-old Mike Conleywho played 20 minutes while filling in for DiVincenzo and Edwards.
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