Edwards and Towns propel Wolves to a dominant 106-80 victory over Murray and Jokic, securing a commanding 2-0 series lead over the defending champion Nuggets.
"We've had some exceptional defensive performances this season," commented Wolves coach Chris Finch after his team surprisingly secured a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. "This has to rank among the best of them."
Despite the absence of their top defender, Rudy Gobert, who was attending the birth of his son in Minneapolis, the Wolves stifled Denver's offense, limiting them to a dismal 29-of-83 shooting night.
Finch credited Gobert's influence on their defensive prowess, stating, "Rudy has been instrumental in establishing our defensive identity. His absence speaks volumes about his impact and the importance we place on defense as a team. However, we have the belief that we can win regardless of who is on the court."
Towns and Edwards both contributed 27 points as the Wolves remained unbeaten in the playoffs at 6-0, setting themselves up to potentially clinch the series with victories in Minneapolis on Friday and Sunday.
Malone claimed he was unaware of Murray's actions, while crew chief Marc Davis confirmed that the officials did not witness the incident.
Murray, who struggled with his shooting throughout the series, declined to comment after the game and is expected to face fines from the NBA for his actions.
Despite Aaron Gordon's 20 points and Nikola Jokic's double-double performance with 16 points and 16 rebounds, the Nuggets failed to generate significant contributions from their supporting cast.
The Timberwolves dominated the first half, outscoring the Nuggets 43-18 in one stretch, establishing a commanding 26-point lead at halftime, the largest halftime deficit at home in franchise playoff history for Denver.
Looking ahead to Game 3, Towns emphasized humility despite their favorable position, recognizing the challenge ahead. "We're grateful for the opportunity to be up 2-0, but we remain focused and humble in our approach," he stated.
Edwards echoed a similar sentiment, anticipating a different Nuggets team in the upcoming games. "Tonight favored us, but we know they're the defending champs," he said. "They won't play like this again in Game 3."
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