2026 West 1st Round Playoffs: (3) Denver Nuggets Vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves

Fine if anything, NBA knows better to suspend him for what could be a close out game, no one wants to see that.

 

they expected the rockets to win in 6. because it's the rockets and KD, they will talk about us more than boring ass jokic

 

the only punk move was Jokic…this is the playoffs

 

If Vegas knew KD would be out of the 2 of the 3 games and compromised in the 1 game he did play, the odds would've been way more even. Rockets not having home court advantage has to be considered too.

 

Nuggets were kind of punked tonight...wonder if they need a 16x all-star, 2x champ, 2x finals MVP, 1x MVP, top 5 scorer all time???

 

Eff these injuries.


One interesting aspect of the playoffs is that teams can win these early series if their injured players are replaced by players with similar skill sets.

Edwards has not been the same in the playoffs before tonight's injury, but Ayo could play a similar role, and now the Wolves are a win away from winning the series. LeBron has been able to play Doncic's role, and Luke Kenard has a similar skill set to Reaves, so the Lakers are also a win away from the second round.

Of course, the Wolves need Edwards against the Spurs (they likely win), and the Lakers will need Doncic and Reaves against the Thunder (they're winning). Against evenly matched opponents, backups who can mimic the injured players' games are getting the job done. On the other hand, the Nuggets can't find anyone to play like a healthy Gordon, including Gordon himself, and they look screwed.

 

Jokic should absolutely be suspended. He sprinted full court at the end of the game and pushed another player and started a scrum. Randle should be suspended as well.

But, they won't do that because obviously they need Jokic playing to sell the game. Maybe there's a light fine.

 

naw i disagree. they were saying. the young core should still be able to win against 41 year old lebron.

 

I'm not sure about that. Would you have said that? I think most real Rockets fans know we would've been screwed without KD. We're already a severely flawed team even with KD.

 

Is that one rule that says players can't get off the bench still in effect? Aaron Gordon was on the court and a few Wolves players, too.

 

I rewatched it and the whole commotion took in place right near the Timberwolves bench so did they technically leave it? A couple of Nuggets players definitely left theirs.

 

Idk who feels worse. Us or the Nuggets for deciding to face Minny instead of us

 

Jokic put more effort into chasing down McDaniels than he has on any defensive possession this entire series

crazy how McDaniels could be the classless one for scoring a bucket, but the guy who tried to start a fight isn’t

 

You’re absolutely right. And the other guy has the right to knock your block off.

 

Rockets have no chance. Nuggets still have a chance if Edwards tore his ACL or is out for the rest of the series.

 

Well, Minny is not coached by Doc Rivers. So Denver coming back from 1-3 is not very likely.