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Rudy Gobert held Nikola Jokic to 1-of-8 shooting in direct matchups marking the worst playoff shooting performance of the Serbian’s career against a single defender (minimum six attempts). A stat that captures the French big man’s impact, highlighted by several key defensive plays in crunch time.

Comments that underline coach Finch’s view of the Frenchman, after he finished fourth in the Defensive Player of the Year race behind Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, and Ausar Thompson.

With Gobert forced to the bench due to foul trouble in the third quarter, Jokic shifted gears, scoring 14 of his 24 points. But once the big man returned, the balance was restored, as Minnesota locked in defensively at the most critical moment.

Beyond defense, Minnesota also found answers offensively. Anthony Edwards finished with 30 points despite some shooting struggles, while Julius Randle added 24. Crucial, too, was the contribution of Donte DiVincenzo who knocked down clutch shots late.

On the other side, Denver paid for the struggles of its stars in key moments: Jokic and Jamal Murray combined to shoot 2-of-12 in the fourth quarter scoring just four points. A drop-off that opened the door for the Timberwolves’ comeback.

With the series now tied at 1-1, the matchup shifts to Minneapolis for Game 3. Minnesota carries momentum, while the Nuggets must rediscover offensive consistency to avoid losing control of the series.