Playoffs: Timberwolves beat Nuggets in Game 2 without Rudy Gobert

The Minnesota Timberwolves steamrolled the defending NBA champions Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference semis for 106-80 blowout win without Rudy Gobert. The Wolves now lead the series 2-0 despite having played both the games on the road. Anthony Edwards, who dropped 43 points in Game 1, was again on charge, dropping 27 points.

Edwards was ably supported by Karl-Anthony Towns who also dropped in 27 points. Apart from them, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid also dropped 14 points each. The game started with Minnesota dropping 28 points in the first quarter against Nuggets' 20.

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Come second quarter, Timberwolves dropped 33 points against Denver's 15 and the game was done and dusted there only. Minnesota started the second half with same vigor before Denver showed some glimpse of comeback, taking the third quarter 25-21.

The Timberwolves' half-time lead of 26 eventually proved too much for the Nuggets to handle as they succumbed in 20-24 in the final quarter. Nuggets' Nikola Jokic scored just 16 points while Aaron Gordon put in 20 and Justin Holiday dropped 13.

This was the second time in a row that Denver were stopped short of 100 points in the postseason. The score of 80 is also the lowest for Denver this season - showing Minnesota's dominance over them in the ongoing best of seven series.

During the game, Denver's Jamal Murray also came in the limelight for throwing the heatpack on the court during the game. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch called it out after the game.

"I didn't actually see it happen," Finch said. "And the way it was explained to me, the referees didn't see it either. So they're not able to issue a technical unless they see it. We tried to impress upon them there probably aren't many fans in the building who have a heat pack, so it probably had to come from the bench. Which they found logical."

The third game of the series will be played on May 11.