Denver Nuggets beat Minnesota Timberwolves as Jamal Murray scores 30
Jamal Murray scored 30 points as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105 to take a 1-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round playoff series.
The first-time All-Star produced a flawless 16-for-16 performance from the free-throw line to propel the hosts to an opening victory on Saturday.
Aaron Gordon encountered early foul trouble, forcing Denver to rely heavily on their dynamic point guard in the opening stages.
Jokic makes NBA playoff history
Nikola Jokic overcame a sluggish start to register his 22nd career postseason triple-double.
The Serbian center finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.
His remarkable playoff tally now ranks third in NBA history behind only Magic Johnson and LeBron James.
Decisive third-quarter surge
The pivotal moment arrived after half-time when the third seeds unleashed a devastating 14-0 run.
Minnesota endured a barren spell during this period, missing nine consecutive field-goal attempts.
Anthony Edwards led the scoring for the visitors with 22 points during his 37 minutes on court.
However, the Timberwolves guard was resting on the bench during the decisive Denver scoring streak.
Managing injuries and looking ahead
The 22-year-old continues to manage pain in his right knee and will play through the issue for the remainder of the postseason.
These two franchises have developed an intense rivalry, playing each other more than any other pair of teams over the last three seasons.
Denver now holds a narrow 15-14 advantage in those recent head-to-head meetings.
Minnesota will need to improve their perimeter defence without drawing whistles when the series resumes on Monday.
The entire visiting roster shot just 19 free throws compared to the individual record-breaking tally of 16 from the Canadian playmaker.
Depleted Lakers host Rockets
Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers are preparing to host the Houston Rockets.
The home side will rely heavily on veteran forward LeBron James after losing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to indefinite injuries.
Houston may also be missing key personnel for the late tip-off in California.
Star forward Kevin Durant is listed as questionable for the visitors after sustaining a knee contusion.
