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Nuggets Stave Off Elimination, Beat Timberwolves 125-113

4/28/2026

Summary

Nuggets Force Game 6

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-113 in Game 5, extending their first-round series.
Trailing 3-1, the Nuggets needed the win to avoid elimination.
Aaron Gordon was ruled out with left calf tightness while Peyton Watson missed Game 5 due to a recurring hamstring injury.
Spencer Jones started in Gordon’s place, scoring 20 points on 4-for-5 shooting, while Cameron Johnson added 18 points, five rebounds and six assists to force Game 6.

Summary

Gordon Injury Fallout

Denver faces a projected KES 2.6 billion (about $20 million) loss in playoff revenue if eliminated.
Nairobi betting markets sharply shifted odds after news of Gordon’s calf injury, reflecting greater uncertainty.
Fans debated whether load-management and Gordon’s age caused his recurring injuries.
Analysts say Gordon’s absence narrows Denver’s championship window, may force a roster rethink, and has sparked calls to review the team’s training and medical staff.

Summary

Nuggets Erase Deficit

Anthony Edwards' left knee bone bruise and Donte DiVincenzo's torn Achilles will sideline both Timberwolves starters.
Mike Conley and Ayo Dosunmu will assume expanded roles after Dosunmu's 43-point Game 4 effort.
The Nuggets have erased a 3-1 deficit for the second time in nine years, matching their 2020 comeback.
Game 5 airs on NBC and tips off at 10:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. MT), while Naz Reid added 17 points and nine rebounds in the prior win.

History

Historical Context

In 2016 the Cleveland Cavaliers became the first NBA Finals team to erase a 3-1 deficit, defeating the record-setting 73-9 Golden State Warriors and ending Cleveland’s 52-year title drought. That comeback set a precedent that the 2024 Denver Nuggets cite as they chase a similar reversal after falling behind 3-1, while injury concerns echo LeBron James’s mid-series issues.

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Nuggets Force Game 6

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-113 in Game 5, extending their first-round series.
Trailing 3-1, the Nuggets needed the win to avoid elimination.
Aaron Gordon was ruled out with left calf tightness while Peyton Watson missed Game 5 due to a recurring hamstring injury.
Spencer Jones started in Gordon’s place, scoring 20 points on 4-for-5 shooting, while Cameron Johnson added 18 points, five rebounds and six assists to force Game 6.

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