Analysis: Timberwolves don't feel defeated, blame themselves for Game 5 loss

DENVER – Even while shorthanded against the Denver Nuggets, the Minnesota Timberwolves came away blaming themselves more than feeling overmatched in their 125-113 loss in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Monday.

The Wolves committed 25 turnovers, an eyesore amount that they equaled only once during the regular season, and it doesn't take deep statistical analysis to know that their sloppiness cost them the game.

The Nuggets converted those turnovers into 35 points, limiting the effectiveness of the resurgent Wolves defense, which had done a commendable job keeping Denver down as the Wolves built their lead in this series - a lead that is now 3-2 headed into Game 6 on Thursday at Target Center.

"They were uncharacteristic," point guard Mike Conley said of the miscues. "We were just a little bit chaotic at times with spacing, just not reading the game like we should and just mental lapses out there, more than anything."

Down Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards, the Wolves looked as if they forgot what had made them so successful in the second half of Game 4 without that pair. They didn't make excuses for being down their starting backcourt, nor did they feel like Denver did anything schematically to shut them down.

"They didn't change their defensive schematics between the first four games," said guard Ayo Dosunmu, who had 18 points in his second career postseason start and first with the Wolves. "So we have to be able to take advantage of that. It might just be making the right play. You might not shoot the ball four, five possessions and you've got to be OK with that, because the way they're guarding us, we know where we can get our shots."

But much like Game 1, the Wolves came away feeling like they made it easy for the Nuggets to defeat them. Their offensive rhythm can be a delicate thing to click in and out of, but in Game 5, they were doing the things that caused them to fall out of it. They were playing in crowds, while coach Chris Finch and players said they tried too often to make "home run plays" instead of taking what the defense was giving them.

"You've got to come into the game more prepared on where you're going to get coverages as far as who's going to be doubled, who's going to be open," Conley said. "What opportunities can we get a swing-swing to the corner or where can we be effective. We can't force it. Don't try to find your shot too often."

The Wolves won three consecutive games in the series in part because of their ability to attack the rim. But with Denver crowding the paint a little more, it forced the Wolves into some bad decisions that they will have to clean up with two days off before Game 6.

"I didn't like our decisionmaking in the paint," Finch said. "You know, the decisionmaking in around the rim was not good for the most part."

You could look at how the Wolves played and think they were rattled or overmatched without DiVincenzo and Edwards. At times, they just couldn't hang onto the ball. But that wasn't the takeaway. They still feel like they can win this series, and they don't feel like Denver suddenly has the advantage with the Wolves hurting as they are. When the Wolves didn't turn it over, they shot 51% from the floor and 43% from three-point range. There was not a defeatist attitude in the locker room.

"Don't beat ourselves," said Julius Randle, who had 27 points, nine rebounds, six assists and five turnovers. "I feel like we beat ourselves tonight. Just win the game, make the simple plays, don't beat ourselves, play defense."

But the turnovers made it harder to play defense when the Nuggets were getting out in transition so much on their 16 steals. That enabled the Denver role players who had been quiet all series to get going for the first time, providing support that had been missing for stars Nikola Jokic (27 points, 12 rebounds, 16 assists) and Jamal Murray (24 points).

Cam Johnson, who scored 15 points combined in Games 3 and 4, finished with 18 points. Spencer Jones, who started for the injured Aaron Gordon, had 20, nine more than his total from the first four games.

The Nuggets wanted to be more physical and players like Christian Braun made it a point to go after Denver public enemy No. 1 Jaden McDaniels, who got in early foul trouble. McDaniels never really got a groove after picking up two quick fouls (the second of which, an offensive foul, Finch said was "ridiculous"). He finished with 13 points and four turnovers.

"I didn't really feel too much, besides the crowd," McDaniels said. "It's all fun to me. I don't really care. I feed into it. We just gotta get the job done next game and then there's no more talking."

The crowd was on him most of the night, and multiple players like Braun and Jonas Valanciunas picked up technical fouls after dustups with him. But in typical McDaniels fashion, he appeared unbothered by the negative attention.

"It's cool. I like it," he said. "You see I'm probably shaking my head the whole time they're booing me. I'm laughing, so they can't get in my head. I already expect it to come."

His only regrets? Those early fouls ... plus one other thing.

"Four turnovers," he said. "I usually don't do that."

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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 5:05 PM.