NBA: Anthony Edwards, Wolves escape 19-point hole, level set vs. Nuggets

Anthony Edwards posted a double-double with 30 points and 10 rebounds, and Donte DiVincenzo hit a clutch 3-pointer with 1:05 left to lift the Minnesota Timberwolves to a dramatic 119-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of their Western Conference quarterfinal on Monday. The Timberwolves overcame a 19-point deficit to even the series at 1-1.

Julius Randle contributed 24 points and nine rebounds, including two crucial free throws with 18.8 seconds left to help secure the win for Minnesota. Game 3 of the best-of-seven series will take place on Thursday night in Minneapolis.

"It's 1-1. There's no driver's seat," said Edwards. "We're going home, we've got an advantage at home. Hopefully our fans rattle them when they come to our crib. We'll be ready."

DiVincenzo added 16 points, while Jaden McDaniels chipped in 14 points. Bones Hyland and Naz Reid also played key roles, contributing 13 and 11 points, respectively.

On the other side, Jamal Murray continued his strong play, scoring 30 points for the second consecutive game. Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, but both struggled in the fourth quarter, combining for just 2-for-12 shooting.

Christian Braun and Tim Hardaway Jr. each scored 16 points, and Cameron Johnson finished with 13 points for Denver, which suffered its first loss since March 18 after winning its last 12 regular-season games and its playoff opener.

Denver head coach David Adelman pointed to second-chance points as the key factor in the loss. "We lost this game on second-chance points," Adelman said. "Every time we had control of this game we gave up a free throw rebound, a really soft crash in the corner. In a hard-fought game like that, where you work so hard to get a stop and then just give up second-chance points, it kept them in the game."

The Nuggets led by as many as 19 points in the second quarter, but Minnesota mounted a strong comeback. A 51-foot buzzer-beater from Murray to close out the first half tied the game at 56-56. Jokic's strong third quarter gave Denver a 93-90 lead heading into the final period.

Bruce Brown's two early 3-pointers in the fourth put the Nuggets ahead by five, but the Timberwolves responded. Randle's free throws cut the deficit to one, and a dunk from Braun gave Denver a brief 107-105 lead. Minnesota then surged ahead with three consecutive buckets to take control at 110-107.

Denver had a chance to pull back with a 1-for-2 showing from Braun at the free-throw line, cutting the deficit to 115-114. However, Randle's clutch free throws, a missed jumper from Murray, and DiVincenzo's dunk sealed the Timberwolves' comeback.

"We had a great first quarter," Adelman reflected, "but they had a great second quarter, and the game basically restarted from there."

The series now heads to Minneapolis, where the Timberwolves will look to take a series lead in Game 3. -Field Level Media/Reuters