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The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets are engaged in a heated and entertaining battle in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, led by two of the biggest names in the league Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic. San Antonio Spurs legend Manu Ginobili has become part of those intrigued by the matchup pitting an upstart squad against the defending NBA champion.
Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokic bring star power in the highly competitive series, though definitely in different ways as described by Ginobili in his social media post.
Edwards has been the barometer of the Timberwolves’ success this series with 33.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, including two 40-plus point outings – 43 points in Game 1 and a new career-high in the playoffs of 44 points in Game 4. He has shown his mettle as a two-way player, becoming an inside-out scoring threat who hustles back on defense.
Jokic posted norms of 26.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game in the first four games. The three-time league MVP has been a threat in the low block for the Nuggets, being able to create his own shot and at the same time draw the defense as a decoy to create shot opportunities for his teammates. His wide-body frame and seemingly slow movement can be deceptive, as Jokic can be effective in his movements on both ends of the floor.
Manu Ginobili entertained by delightful Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic battle
Both teams have won two games apiece following the first four games of the best-of-seven series, with the series shifting back to Denver for Game 5. Manu Ginobili is no stranger to high-intensity playoff action, and he expressed his enjoyment of watching the back-and-forth between two of the game’s top players today in a post on social media network X, formerly known as Twitter.
“What a pleasure to watch players like Jokic and Edwards play! Completely different styles but both hugely entertaining. Love them both!” said Ginobili, a four-time NBA champion with the Spurs who now works as the special advisor to basketball operations.
First four games a real test in Nuggets’ title retention campaign
The first four games of the Western Conference semifinals have been the first real test of the Nuggets’ composure and resiliency, going down 0-2 early on in the series before leveling the series on the road.
Jamal Murray was levied a hefty $100,000 fine for throwing a heating pad during a crucial juncture of the Nuggets’ Game 2 loss, while Head Coach Michael Malone had to deal with the raucous Timberwolves crowd at the Target Center in Game 3. Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards dished out trash talk to Murray late in his career-defining Game 4 performance in a bid to rattle the Nuggets ahead of a crucial matchup back in Denver.
On the other end, Edwards remained composed and unfazed despite back-to-back losses at the hands of the Nuggets. Head Coach Chris Finch revealed following their Game 4 loss that the Timberwolves were prepared for a long series against the Nuggets.
The Western Conference semifinals between the Timberwolves and Nuggets return to Ball Arena in Denver for the pivotal Game 5 on Tuesday, tipping off at 10:30 p.m. ET.
More must-reads:
- Anthony Edwards backs up talk to keep Timberwolves alive in WCF
- Tyrese Haliburton ready to take active role in retaining Pascal Siakam
- The 'Most three-pointers made in the playoffs' quiz
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