Nikola Jokic Takes Denver Nuggets To The Top Of The Western Region After The Minnesota Gasak Timberwolves

JAKARTA - Nikola Jokic scored 24 out of a total of 41 points in the second half as the hosts Denver Nuggets took the top spot in the West with a 116-107 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday 11 April morning.

Jokic also donated 11 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals for Nuggets (56-24), which could secure flagship No. 1 in the Western Region for the second season in a row by winning away games against San Antonio Spurs on Friday 5 April and Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday 7 April.

Denver's Jamal Murray scored 20 points and Michael Porter Jr. contributed 18 points. This victory is the 423rd for Nugets coach Michael Malone, equaling George Karl's record for second place in NBA history.

Anthony Edwards scored 25 points, Mike Conley scored 19, Rudy Gobert scored 13 points and 15 rebounds, and Naz Reid also contributed 13 to Minnesota (55-25). Timberwolves slipped to second place in the Western Region with Thunder, who beat Spurs earlier on Thursday. Both Minnesota and Oklahoma City were in one game behind Denver.

Minnesota remains without Karl-Anthony Towns, although expected to return from a knee injury for the last two regular-season games. Timberwolves will host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday 19 April and Phoenix Suns on Sunday 21 April.

This match has a feel of playoff from the start, where both teams have never been more than seven points ahead of the first three quarters.

Timberwolves widened their three-point lead in half to 79-74 thanks to 14 points from Edwards, but Jokic remained on track. He recovered from almost losing the ball to convert three plus one points and started a 9-1 attack giving Denver a 83-80 lead towards the fourth quarter.

Edwards and Jokic both scored 15 points in the third quarter and were on the bench as they entered the final 12 minutes when Nuggets widened their lead to 88-84 thanks to a putback by Porter with 8:46 remaining.

Conley's fourth three-pointer saw him 88-87, but Denver scored nine points to trigger the dominant attack until the end of the game.

Conley packed another three-pointer, but Nuggets continued to provide answers and lead 102-92 with 3:59 remaining. After Denver managed to put up a challenge against the call of foul on the defense side, Porter converted two free throws to extend the lead to 12 points.

Christian Braun perfected the victory with two tanks, the second making the score 108-94.