The game didn’t start out how the Wolves wanted it to.
The first half against the Nuggets in Nebraska was a bit sloppy, but thanks to a big run in the third quarter led exclusively by Minnesota’s defense, the Wolves came away with a 105-88 win.
Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns and Shabazz Muhammad finished with 18 points each, while Nemanja Bjelica added 11.
The unsung hero through the game might have Wolves point guard Ricky Rubio. In 25 minutes, Rubio was a game-best +25. He finished with seven points, eight assists and four steals while setting the team up on both ends of the court.
The Nuggets were without Danilo Gallinari, Will Barton, Jusuf Nurkic and Emmanuel Mudiay, all who sat for rest. Those players might have made a difference in the first half for Denver, but in the second, Minnesota found its rhythm on both ends of the court.
Center Gorgui Dieng finished with 10 points and seven rebounds while shooting 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. Towns also had eight rebounds.
Coach Tom Thibodeau talked before the game about minutes during preseason and how there’s a challenge to get guys ready, but also to get long looks at the bench. Thibodeau seemed to have the best of both worlds as no starter played more than 28 minutes and five bench players played at least 16 minutes.
Wilson Chandler led the Nuggets with 16 points, while rookie Jamal Murray added 14. Alex Toupane and Nikola Jokic, who had four fouls in the first half, both scored 11 points.
Highlight of the Game
During the heart of Minnesota’s run in the third, Rubio hit Zach LaVine with a patented Rubio no-look pass for the slam to give Minnesota a 67-59 lead. LaVine finished with 12 points.
The Numbers Game
- Rubio had three steals in the first half.
- The Wolves shot 31 free throws in the first half. Their regular season record for free throws attempted in a half is 38.
- St. Cloud, Minn. native Nate Wolters finished with seven points, two rebounds and two assists for the Nuggets.
- The Wolves forced 25 turnovers in the game.
Player of the Game
This sounds like a cop out, but there really wasn’t one. Rubio, Wiggins, Towns, Bjelica and Muhammad all played exceptional. And Dieng was a big reason, along with Towns, with getting Jokic in early foul trouble. A true team effort in this preseason battle.
Up Next
The Wolves will travel to Louisville to take on the Miami Heat at the KFC Yum! Center. It will be the team’s second matchup against Miami this preseason.