The Minnesota Timberwolves are one game from pulling a first-round upset in the 2026 NBA playoffs.
Minnesota, the No. 6 seed in the West, took a commanding 3-1 lead over the third-seeded Denver Nuggets with a 112-95 victory last night, despite losing Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards to injuries. DiVincenzo only played a minute of the game while Edwards got injured late in the first half.
How Does Chris Finch Replace Edwards and DiVincenzo In Rotation As Wolves Look To Close Out Nuggets
With DiVincenzo and Edwards ruled out for the second half, Ayo Dosunmu stepped up his game, and the Timberwolves ramped up their defense. Trailing 54-50 at halftime, the Wolves took over in the second half, led by Julius Randle and Dosunmu. Randle and Dosunmu combined for 24 of their 32 points as the Wolves led by four heading into the fourth.
Dosunmu finished the game with 43 points, including 27 in the second half, on 13 of 17 shooting from the field, 5 of 5 from the 3-point line, and 12 of 12 from the free throw line. The 43 points were the most points by a reserve in a playoff game since Fred Brown scored 45 off the bench for the Seattle Supersonics in 1976.
Minnesota outscored Denver 62-42 in the second quarter. The Timberwolves shot 43.8% from the floor in the second half. More importantly, they held the Nuggets to just 9 of 37 from the field (24.3%) and 2 of 15 from deep (15.4%) over the final 24 minutes. They also outrebounded the Nuggets 29-20 and won the turnover battle (9-7). Naz Reid added 17 points and nine rebounds to lead three other Wolves in double-figures. Meanwhile, Rudy Gobert grabbed 15 rebounds with five on the offensive end.
“Just proud of the guys, stepping up, fighting for each other — literally and figuratively,” head coach Chris Finch told reporters. “These teams don’t like each other; there’s just no secret. You play each other this many times, where things are at stake, even a Christmas Day game is a battle; it feels like a playoff game. It’s how it goes.”
Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards Injuries
DiVincenzo was ruled out for 79 seconds with a lower right leg injury after being helped off the court, unable to put weight on the leg. He has since been ruled out for the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles.
“He’s the heart and soul of everything we do,” Finch said after last night’s game, “We’ll love him and be there for him.”
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reports that DiVincenzo is undergoing surgery today in New York. Bontempts added that the surgeon, Dr. Martin O’Malley, also fixed up Boston’s Jayson Tatum after he underwent the same surgery in the playoffs last season.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves received a little better news about Edwards. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Edwards is expected to miss multiple weeks due to a bone bruise and a leg hyperextension.
Edwards suffered the injury with 2:43 left in the second quarter. Edwards landed awkwardly as he tried to block Cam Johnson’s layup with his left leg bent backward.
“Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has sustained a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee and is expected to miss multiple weeks, sources tell ESPN,” Charnia said via X earlier today. “Results showed Edwards avoided any ligament damage, but he will now miss time. Edwards will begin rehab immediately.”
