The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves are shortly constructing one of many NBA’s greatest rivalries. There’s a lot shared DNA between the 2 franchises, beginning with lead government Tim Connelly leaping to Denver to Minnesota after laying the muse for the Nuggets’ 2023 championship crew. The Wolves ruined the Nuggets’ bid for back-to-back titles final yr by knocking them out of the second spherical of the playoffs in gorgeous trend.
If the primary assembly between the 2 groups within the 2024-25 season is any indication, this Western Convention rivalry is just going to get higher and higher.
The Wolves beat the Nuggets, 119-116, on Friday night time on the Goal Middle. The fourth quarter was a charming back-and-forth affair highlighted by Christian Braun’s vicious poster dunk on Rudy Gobert, and Anthony Edwards’ clutch shot-making stealing the present. Whereas Minnesota once more took this spherical, Wolves gamers had been nonetheless marveling at Nuggets star Nikola Jokic after the sport.
Anthony Edwards interrupted Rudy Gobert’s post-game interview within the locker room to speak about Jokic someway diagnosing what play the Wolves had been operating popping out of a timeout within the fourth quarter. Edwards and Gobert had been in disbelief speaking about how Jokic knew what was coming regardless that the gamers did nothing to point the set.
“We now have a spy on the bench,” Gobert mentioned in jest. Watch the locker room dialogue right here, then watch the play:
Anthony Edwards came to visit to speak to Rudy Gobert whereas we had been interviewing him postgame.
Ant needed to speak about how Nikola Jokic knew the precise play they had been going to run popping out of the timeout on the finish of the sport.
Rudy mentioned Jokic will need to have a spy: “He knew the play… pic.twitter.com/lGmAacKdhG
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) November 2, 2024
Anthony Edwards & Rudy Gobert couldn’t imagine that Nikola Jokic knew their play in the course of the recreation. They joked round saying theirs a spy pic.twitter.com/vh06An53AC
— SneakerReporter (@SneakerReporter) November 2, 2024
The play occurred with six minutes left within the fourth with Denver holding a four-point lead. Popping out of the timeout, cameras confirmed Jokic calling out Minnesota’s play. You’ll be able to see Edwards and Gobert within the video alternate a fast look at one another to specific their bewilderment that Jokic knew precisely what they had been operating.
Watch the play right here. Jokic was all around the entry cross on Gobert’s roll to the rim, and teammate Aaron Gordon broke it up for a key turnover.
I imagine that is the play Ant and Rudy are referencing…
(I do know they mentioned with three minutes left — however that is the play after the final timeout the Wolves known as.) pic.twitter.com/CKnjemAqBH
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) November 2, 2024
After the sport, Edwards known as Jokic the very best participant on the planet in his ESPN interview. Moments like this present what makes the three-time MVP so particular even past his unbelievable field rating manufacturing each night time.
Edwards has completely no filter in interviews. Right here’s one other humorous second from the locker room (warning: foul language forward):
The Nuggets have began off gradual, however their beginning lineup remains to be superb, principally due to Jokic and Aaron Gordon. We’d like one other Minnesota/Denver collection on this yr’s playoffs, thanks very a lot.
