Monday’s NBA playoffs scores, takeaways: Knicks slip by in MSG; Nuggets fall in 2-0 hole

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 6: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Round 2 Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 6, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
By The Athletic NBA Staff
May 7, 2024

By Jon Krawczynski, Tony Jones, Fred Katz and Mike Vorkunov

Madison Square Garden was electric as the New York Knicks’ second-round series got underway with a tight win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night. Meanwhile, in Denver, the defending champion Nuggets were thoroughly outplayed and fell into a 2-0 hole in their series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which were without defensive centerpiece Rudy Gobert.

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Timberwolves 106, Nuggets 80

Series: Timberwolves lead 2-0

Game 3: 9:30 p.m. ET Friday in Minneapolis (ESPN)

Wolves look for real

Without the anchor of their defense, with their head coach immobilized by injury, the Timberwolves took apart the defending champions piece by piece, a dismantling that puts everything they’ve done in these playoffs in perspective.

Maybe the Phoenix Suns weren’t such a complete mess as they looked in Round 1. Maybe the Timberwolves are just that good. With Rudy Gobert watching from home after the birth of his son, the Wolves put together a jaw-dropping defensive effort. They held Denver to 34.9 percent shooting, forced 19 turnovers and harassed Jamal Murray into 3-of-18 shooting to not only take a commanding lead in the series but announce themselves as true championship contenders.

The Wolves entered the playoffs with high hopes, but there was still plenty of skepticism about their ability to deliver on the big stage. Through their first six games, no team has been more impressive.

They led by as many as 32 points, held Nikola Jokić to 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting with four turnovers and contested almost every shot the Nuggets took.

Karl-Anthony Towns stepped into Gobert’s starting center spot and the Wolves defense didn’t miss a beat. He scored 27 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and flustered Jokić on the defensive end with his physicality.

Edwards also was terrific with 27 points and seven assists, Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 14 points, six rebounds and three blocks and Naz Reid had 14 points, five rebounds and four blocks.

The night ended with loud chants of “Let’s Go Wolves!” ringing through Ball Arena. Denver is stunned. And the Wolves look primed and ready to make a real championship run. — Jon Krawczynski

Where is Nuggets’ fight?

If the Nuggets have any hope of getting into this series, they have to fight back.

They have to be more physical. They have to take Game 3 to Minnesota, instead of Minnesota taking Games 1 and 2 to them. There is a lot more stuff basketball-wise in between that. But it has to start with joining the street fight that the Timberwolves have turned this Western Conference semifinal series into.

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In simpler terms: Remember when you ran into the house when you were young and didn’t want to fight a bully? And your mother made you go out there and fight, win or lose? Denver needs to leave the house and join the fight.

The Nuggets have been punked so far. They have gotten their collective backsides whooped. They have shrunk under Minnesota’s pressure. They have looked nothing like a defending NBA champion but still have time.

They are down 2-0 heading into Friday night’s Game 3. And they can make a statement on the road if they improve their physicality. This is not going to be easy.

The Timberwolves are a generationally good defensive team. But this starts from the top down. Jokić has to be better. Murray has to be better. And if that happens, the trickle-down effect can help Denver on Friday night. — Tony Jones

Knicks 121, Pacers 117

Series: Knicks lead 1-0

Game 2: 8 p.m. ET Wednesday in New York (TNT)

Game of inches, er, feet 

The feet changed the game.

With under a minute to go in a tie game, Jalen Brunson whipped a pass from the left side of the court. It went off Aaron Nesmith’s foot — or so it seemed. Referees called a kick ball, but upon replay, it didn’t seem to go off Nesmith’s foot.

The Knicks retained the ball, even though they shouldn’t have, and took the lead moments later when Brunson posted up Nesmith, waited for help to come and then flung a one-handed dish to Donte DiVincenzo, who drained a go-ahead 3-pointer from the wing.

Only a couple of plays later, the Knicks won by a foot. Pascal Siakam tossed up a go-ahead floater. Brunson fielded the ensuing inbounds with the Knicks up one and tried to swerve around Andrew Nembhard. The ball trickled out of bounds. Pacers ball.

Until the Knicks challenged.

It turned out, it deflected off Nembhard’s shoe. The Knicks won the challenge, got the ball and milked more clock, eventually closing out a win to go up 1-0 in their first-round series with the Pacers.

They say basketball is a game of inches. Well, this was a game of feet. — Fred Katz

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