Minnesota Timberwolves 113-96 Denver Nuggets, NBA 2026 Playoffs: McDaniels Helps Team Take 2-1 Lead

Jaden McDaniels and the Minnesota Timberwolves flexed even more of their defensive muscle against the flagging Denver Nuggets, seizing a 2-1 lead in the first-round NBA playoff series with a dominant 113-96 victory in Game 3 on Thursday night. McDaniels had 20 points and 10 rebounds; Ayo Dosunmu added 25 points and nine assists off the bench, and Donte DiVincenzo had 15 points and four steals for the surging Timberwolves. Rudy Gobert followed his inspired Game 2 effort against Nikola Jokic by stifling the three-time MVP again on an ugly 7-for-26 shooting night, and the Timberwolves established a postseason franchise record by allowing the Nuggets just 11 points in the tone-setting first quarter.

Updated on: 24 April 2026 4:25 pm

Published at: 24 April 2026 4:25 pm

Timberwolves vs Nuggets NBA 2026 Playoffs game 3 photo-Nikola Jokic

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15), back, looks to shoot as Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) defends during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Minneapolis. | Photo: AP/Abbie Parr

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Timberwolves vs Nuggets NBA 2026 Playoffs game 3 photo-Jamal Murray

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) talks with referee Justin van Duyne during the second half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, in Minneapolis. | Photo: AP/Abbie Parr

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Timberwolves vs Nuggets NBA 2026 Playoffs game 3 photo-Anthony Edwards

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards waits for play to resume during the second half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, in Minneapolis. | Photo: AP/Abbie Parr

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Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) walks across the court during the second half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis. | Photo: AP/Abbie Parr

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Timberwolves vs Nuggets NBA 2026 Playoffs game 3 photo-Ayo Dosunmu

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) shoots as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, in Minneapolis. | Photo: AP/Abbie Parr

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Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) shoots over Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) during the second half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, in Minneapolis. | Photo: AP/Abbie Parr

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Timberwolves vs Nuggets NBA 2026 Playoffs game 3 photo-Bones Hyland

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland (8) celebrates next to center Naz Reid (11) after making a 3-point shot during the second half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, in Minneapolis. | Photo: AP/Abbie Parr

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Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) works toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) and guard Anthony Edwards (5) defend during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, in Minneapolis. | Photo: AP/Abbie Parr

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Timberwolves vs Nuggets NBA 2026 Playoffs game 3 photo-

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the first half in Game 3 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, in Minneapolis. | Photo: AP/Abbie Parr