Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets calls a play against the Miami Heat during the second quarter at Kaseya Center on December 29, 2025 in Miami, Florida. Rich Storry, Getty Images/AFP/File

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

LOS ANGELES — Nikola Jokic&#x27;s 25-point triple-double and 30 points from Jamal Murray propelled the Denver Nuggets to a 116-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in their NBA playoff opener on Saturday.Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic added 13 rebounds and 11 assists, shaking off a slow start that saw him score just six points in the first half to help the Nuggets pull away in a game tied 62-62 at halftime.Murray scored 17 of his 30 in the first half to keep the Nuggets close, finishing a perfect 16 of 16 from the free-throw line.The third playoff series in four seasons between the teams got off to a physical start at Denver&#x27;s Ball Arena, with more than 40 fouls called, a flagrant foul called on Minnesota&#x27;s Jaden McDaniels and a technical on Denver coach David Adelman.The Nuggets trailed by as many as 12 in the first quarter before bearing down in the second period and pulling away after the break.Adelman was pleased with the way his team responded after the early punch from the visitors.&quot;Winning a grimy game, it&#x27;s good,&quot; Adelman said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/4/18/magic-rout-hornets-as-final-nba-playoff-spots-decided-1209">Suns eliminate Warriors as Magic rout Hornets for final NBA playoff spots </a></div>&quot;Both teams are experienced and used to winning these games. They know what it means to play in a physical match-up. There&#x27;s a respect on both sides. There&#x27;s also a want to win.Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 22 points and Rudy Gobert added a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, but ultimately they couldn&#x27;t find an answer for Jokic.&quot;(Jokic) is such a patient player,&quot; Adelman said. &quot;Early it was a lot of our guys making plays for each other and as they changed their coverages then he went to work.&quot;The Nuggets, who beat Minnesota in the 2023 playoffs on the way to the NBA title, then lost to them the following year, host game two of the best-of-seven Western Conference series on Monday.In the Eastern Conference, the third-seeded New York Knicks and fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers opened with comfortable victories.Jalen Brunson scored 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 25 for the Knicks in a 113-102 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden.Brunson scored 19 points in the first quarter to help the Knicks emerge from the back-and-forth period with a 30-24 lead they wouldn&#x27;t relinquish.Towns stepped it up in the second half, scoring 19 points in the second half to keep things rolling for a Knicks team aiming to improve on their trip to last year&#x27;s Eastern Conference finals.CJ McCollum scored 26 points to lead the Hawks.In Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points to fuel the Cavaliers in a 126-113 win over the Toronto Raptors.James Harden added a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds and Max Strus scored 24 points off the bench for the Cavs, who host game two.RJ Barrett scored 24 points for the Raptors, who never led after the opening minutes and trailed by as many as 24.Mitchell has now scored at least 30 points in an NBA record nine straight playoff series openers.&quot;You see the focus,&quot; Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said of Mitchell. &quot;How he just gets more locked-in than ever.&quot;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/4/18/thunder-stay-in-the-moment-as-nba-title-repeat-beckons-1153">Thunder stay in the moment as NBA title repeat beckons </a></div><div> </div><div>Durant out for Rockets</div>The final game of the day saw the West&#x27;s fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets.The series was billed as a matchup of old foes LeBron James and Kevin Durant.But Rockets star Durant was ruled out of game one with a bruised knee suffered in practice.&quot;Hopefully it&#x27;s a one-game thing,&quot; coach Ime Udoka said.James, 41 and playing in his unprecedented 23rd season, is in the playoffs for a record-equaling 19th time and chasing a fifth NBA title.He&#x27;s leading a Lakers team missing NBA leading scorer Luka Doncic and fellow guard Austin Reaves, who are sidelined indefinitely after late-season injuries.

Nikola Jokic's 25-point triple-double and 30 points from Jamal Murray propelled the Denver Nuggets to a 116-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in their NBA playoff opener on Saturday.

Nikola Jokic's 25-point triple-double and 30 points from Jamal Murray propelled the Denver Nuggets to a 116-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in their NBA playoff opener on Saturday.

Nuggets hold off T'Wolves, Knicks and Cavs win NBA playoff openers

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Basketball

Nuggets hold off T'Wolves, Knicks and Cavs win NBA playoff openers

Agence France-Presse

Published April 19, 2026 10:59 AM PHT

Read More:

NBA

National Basketball Association

Basketball

Denver Nuggets

Minnesota Timberwolves

ABSSports

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.