The Denver Nuggets woes against the Minnesota Timberwolves continue. The Wolves made it five straight against the Nuggets tonight in a game they controlled throughout. Anthony Edwards had a big night, as did Julius Randle and that was plenty to top Nikola Jokic who had little help outside of Russell Westbrook. Minnesota goes wire to wire and extends their win streak to six after handing the Nuggets a 115-95 defeat.

The Timberwolves scored the first seven points of the game with Denver missing free throws and layups. Minnesota could have stretched the lead out further but really didn’t take advantage of the Nuggets sluggish start. Denver couldn’t buy a basket though and the Wolves were able to briefly stretch their lead to ten. Around the midway point of the quarter the Nuggets finally got a little momentum and cut back into the lead with Jokic finally getting on the board. Denver’s play was sloppy after that though so they couldn’t get any closer. The lead went back up for a moment before Nikola got going again. Some equally sloppy play from Minnesota led to a Denver run and the lead was just four with two minutes to go. A poor close to the quarter once again kept the Nuggets from tying the game. The first ended with Denver trailing 34-26.

The Nuggets offense was anemic to start the second quarter. They mustered just two points in the first three minutes while the refs let the teams play. Westbrook seemed like the only person who could score and the Wolves were up ten by the time Jokic checked back in. Denver went on a run to pull back within four before Edwards knocked down a three. Once again the Nuggets got close but couldn’t overcome Minnesota and then the Wolves pushed back. Denver’s offense went cold and Edwards helped stretch the lead to thirteen. Westbrook kept up his good play, he and Jokic combined for 75% of Denver’s points. He kept the Nuggets in it and at half they trailed 57-48.

After giving up a three on the first possession of the half, the Nuggets went on a 7-0 run and forced Minnesota to take a timeout. The Wolves responded after the TO, repelling Denver’s latest advance with Jaden McDaniels corner threes. Denver started giving up offensive rebounds and just like that the lead was back up to fourteen. The Nuggets defense picked up but they still couldn’t buy a basket. Jamal Murray played better in the third and gave Denver some offense outside of Jokic and Westbrook. Minnesota pushed the lead back up again and the Nuggets trailed by double digits in the final two minutes of the quarter. Denver was able to stop the bleeding right at the close but still ended the third trailing 89-75.

The Nuggets once again couldn’t score to start a quarter, despite the fact that Michael Malone left Jokic in to open the fourth. Denver started to look like they were conceding, a Randle three pushed the lead past twenty. A Nuggets timeout didn’t change much with the lid back on Denver’s basket. They still trailed by twenty plus with the quarter half over. On one possession Jokic basically just watched the Wolves grab an offensive rebound as the ball rolled along the floor and then Edwards cashed it in for a three. That had the fans headed for the exits and Malone emptying his bench. Hunter Tyson knocked down a couple threes but that was about it for highlights in garbage time. Denver loses 115-95.