Jokic's Triple-Double Powers Nuggets Past Timberwolves for Seventh Straight Win

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MINNEAPOLIS — Nikola Jokic recorded 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists as the Denver Nuggets extended their winning streak to seven games with a 123-112 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night. Three other Nuggets players—Tim Hardaway Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Jamal Murray—each contributed 23 points. Gordon also added 10 rebounds, while Murray tallied 12 assists. Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 26 points apiece, but the Timberwolves’ four-game winning streak came to an end. Minnesota held a 60-55 lead at halftime, but Denver outscored Minnesota in the third and fourth quarters to secure the win. The game experienced a technical issue late in the third quarter at Target Center, when a glitch in the NBA’s courtside statistics system froze the stat-keeping program. A Timberwolves employee later confirmed that the system crashed when statisticians attempted to input a double-foul called with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter. Final statistics were released several hours after the game.

Denver played without starting forwards Christian Braun (left ankle sprain) and Cam Johnson (right biceps strain), both injured during the Nuggets’ previous win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Braun is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks.

The Northwest Division rivals have met in the playoffs twice over the past three years. Although the Timberwolves swept last year’s regular-season series, the Nuggets have won both meetings this season. In October, Denver overcame an eight-point halftime deficit with a 45-point third quarter to defeat Minnesota 127-114. Edwards and Jaylen Clark were both out due to injuries in that matchup.

Up Next

• Nuggets: Host Chicago on Monday.

• Timberwolves: Host Dallas on Monday.