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Nuggets Lose to Minnesota as Murray Misfires

5/2/2026

23 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Denver Loses Playoffs

Denver lost 110–98 to Minnesota on May 1, 2026, ending its playoff run.
Jamal Murray scored 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting, missed both three-pointers, and blamed himself.
Denver was outrebounded 50-33 despite Nikola Jokic’s 28 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.
Jaden McDaniels contributed 32 points, 10 rebounds and three steals while shutting down Murray.

Summary

Wolves Deploy

Coach Chris Finch deployed a five-forward lineup after injuries sidelined guards Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu and Kyle Anderson.
The unit—Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Terrence Shannon Jr.—out-rebounded Denver 50-33, posted 64 paint points and held Nikola Jokic to 19.4% from three.
Fans and analysts lauded the five-forward rotation as selfless grit and a potential new identity for the Wolves.

History

Historical Context

Small-ball, a style that trades height for speed and three-point shooting, gained prominence when Steve Kerr’s 2014-15 Warriors replaced center Andrew Bogut with Andre Iguodala, posting a league-best 67-15 record and winning the championship. The lineup’s success inspired other teams, such as Minnesota’s five-forward experiment, to prioritize versatility and rebounding efficiency.

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Denver Loses Playoffs

Denver lost 110–98 to Minnesota on May 1, 2026, ending its playoff run.
Jamal Murray scored 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting, missed both three-pointers, and blamed himself.
Denver was outrebounded 50-33 despite Nikola Jokic’s 28 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.
Jaden McDaniels contributed 32 points, 10 rebounds and three steals while shutting down Murray.

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