The loss of the game 2 Nuggets is due to these 2 players

[ad_1]

The Minnesota Timberwolves lost 0-2 to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs after losing Game 2 on Wednesday. The Nuggets won 122-113 behind 40 points from star Jamal Murray and 27 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists from potential NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. On the Timberwolves side, they were led by Anthony Edwards, who recovered well from a mediocre Game 1; Edwards had 41 points on 60.9% shooting from the field and 60.0% shooting from the 3-point line. Unfortunately for Edwards, he was the only T-Wolves player to post anything above an average stat line en route to an 0-2 deficit. However, of all the culprits, there are two Timberwolves players who deserve the most fouls.

There’s a starter and a bench guy who needed to do more in Wednesday’s loss to the Nuggets. The Timberwolves found no success this season when these two guys were at the top of their game, so it’s no surprise Game 2 went the way it did. With an effort like Edwards, the T-wolves would have generally expected a win. However, the outing of those two was enough to keep Minnesota out of the win column. They’re now heading back to Minneapolis hoping to make a streak out of their first-round game, currently at risk of being swept out of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Both of these guys will need to play better if it becomes a more competitive affair from now on. So who are these two players?

Here are two Timberwolves who deserve the most blame for the Game 2 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

*Watch LIVE NBA games with fuboTV (click for free trial)*

*Statistics via ESPN

Karl Anthony Towns

The first is absolutely obvious. Karl-Anthony Towns is the Minnesota Timberwolves’ best player and has been for years. In Game 2, he was arguably the worst player on the field for the T-Wolves and deserves much of the blame for the loss. Towns finished the game with 10 points and 12 rebounds, far from an inspiring stat sheet. He also added 5 turnovers, as well as shooting an extremely poor 3/12 from the field. 25% shooting from the Timberwolves’ best player is a recipe for disaster, and that was the case in Game 2.

It’s Towns’ second straight poor performance to start the 2023 NBA Playoffs, and he needs to flip the switch quickly before he looks up and the T-Wolves have been swept away. He posted 11 points in Game 1 on 5/15 shooting, maintaining a total of 8/27 from the field in the series. After averaging 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists on 49.5 percent shooting in 29 games during the regular season, Towns looks like a whole different and much worse player against the Nuggets. In order to find any kind of success against the No. 1 seed in the West, Towns needs to play at the top of his game. If he doesn’t find his groove in the next two games, expect a short playoff stint for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jaylen Nowell

Jaylen Nowell has been a key part of the rotation this year for the Timberwolves, averaging 10.8 points in 65 games. He is a very capable defender and has provided an energetic spark off the bench throughout the season. It was the exact opposite of the case in Game 2, as he scored a measly 2 points on 1/5 shooting in just 16 minutes of play. He finished with a +/- of -4 and did not been able to contribute anything else to the stat sheet. Simply put, he was really just another body in Game 2 for the Timberwolves.

When guys like Karl-Anthony Towns don’t hold their end of the bargain for the Timberwolves, they won’t be very likely to win games against teams of caliber like the Denver Nuggets. Still, in such cases, the players need to step up a collective effort, and Nowell is an imperative part of the T-Wolves bench. He was an absolute non-factor against the Nuggets, something Minnesota couldn’t afford with Towns playing so poorly. As the Timberwolves head into Game 3, they’re going to be expecting a lot more production from Nowell. Luckily for him, it really won’t be much given his production in Game 2.

With Game 3 on the horizon, the Minnesota Timberwolves will need to play much better basketball if they are to win a game in this series. The Denver Nuggets are clearly a better team, but they look like they’re in a different league through two games in the series. If Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaylen Nowell can perform at their level in Game 3, the Timberwolves could have a chance to steal a game from the Denver Nuggets.

[ad_2]