04/26/26 12:10:00
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04/26 00:08 CDT Dosunmu scores 43 points as Timberwolves overcome injuries to
beat Nuggets 112-96 for 3-1 lead
Dosunmu scores 43 points as Timberwolves overcome injuries to beat Nuggets
112-96 for 3-1 lead
By PATRICK DONNELLY
Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) --- When the Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Ayo Dosunmu from
Chicago in February, they expected to get a strong defender and savvy offensive
player. If he wants to be an elite scorer, they'll take that, too.
Dosunmu scored a career-high 43 points, stepping up after leg injuries to
Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo with the highest-scoring playoff
performance by a reserve in 50 years, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the
Denver Nuggets 112-96 on Saturday night to take a 3-1 series lead.
"Ayo was just out of this world, man," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said.
"Just play after play after play."
Dosunmu made 13 of 17 shots, going 5 of 5 from 3-point range, and all 12 of his
free throws in a season-high 42 minutes.
"He goes places quick. He's an unbelievable finisher. He makes big shots,"
Finch said. "He's not afraid. Just was going to ride him until he collapsed,
really."
It was the best performance by a sub since Fred Brown scored 45 off the bench
for Seattle in a 116-111 loss to Phoenix on April 15, 1976.
"I know it sounds cliche, but I can't and won't take this moment for granted,"
Dosunma said, "because I understand how long and how hard it is to get here."
The game ended with the ejections of Denver's Nikola Jokic and Minnesota's
Julius Randle after Jokic became angry when Jaden McDaniels made a meaningless
layup with 2.1 seconds remaining and confronted the Wolves' swingman near his
bench.
Jamal Murray led Denver with 30 points. Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and
nine assists. The Nuggets were just 6 for 27 from 3-point range.
The Wolves have won the last three games and can end the series in Game 5 on
Monday night in Denver.
"I expect us to have a great effort in Game 5," Nuggets coach David Adelman
said. "I really trust our two best players will find a rhythm, and they have to
find that at home."
Jokic and Murray were 6 of 24 from the field in the second half.
"We had the opportunity to score easier, get open looks, and we didn't," Jokic
said. "And in the fourth quarter the momentum is on their side. They were
making shots, they were playing with some energy and we didn't have that."
The Nuggets led by seven in the third quarter before the Timberwolves used a
disruptive defense to get back into the game. Bones Hyland and Dosunmu scored
breakaway layups on consecutive possessions after Minnesota forced the Nuggets
to turn it over near halfcourt --- two of nine second-half turnovers for the
Nuggets.
Randle added a steal and fast-break dunk to put the Wolves up by four after
three quarters.
Dosunmu had another steal and layup as part of a 9-0 run early in the fourth
quarter that gave Minnesota a 95-82 lead. The basket that pushed the lead into
double digits was a 3-pointer by 38-year-old Mike Conley, who played 20 minutes
while filling in for DiVincenzo and Edwards.
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