The Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to overcome a 10-point deficit in the final four minutes of Friday’s game against the Denver Nuggets, winning 119-116.

Guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored eight points, including a 25-foot jumper early in Minnesota’s rally to get within seven points of Denver.

His shot came two minutes after Denver’s Christian Braun posted for Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert, causing emotions to flare on the court. Braun dunked on Gobert with 5:14 left in the game and then landed in Gobert’s face under the net. Gobert put a hold on Braun and then pushed him away, prompting officials and members of each team to intervene.

“He fell on me.” – Rudy Gobert on the altercation with Christian Braun 😅 pic.twitter.com/RoYUYrmoPl

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 2, 2024

Officials said Braun committed an unsportsmanlike act by taunting Gobert, who they said made unnecessary contact. Both players received technical fouls.

Minnesota gained ground on Denver on star guard Anthony Edwards’ 3-pointer and then a driving jump shot to take the lead with 25 seconds left. Gobert bolstered the Timberwolves’ lead with two free throws before Nuggets star Nikola Jokić missed a three-point attempt to tie the game as the clock expired.

ANT GIVES MINNESOTA IN LEAD 🚨

HE HAS 29 PTS 🔥

DENVER BALL…25.7 SECONDS LEFT on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/JgMjmm6Yvy

— NBA (@NBA) November 2, 2024

Friday marked the Nuggets’ first visit to Target Center in Minneapolis since the Wolves rallied from a 20-point road deficit in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals last season. With Friday’s win, the Timberwolves improved to 3-2 and the Nuggets fell to 2-3.

Edwards finished with 29 points, four assists and four rebounds, while Gobert posted 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Nuggets power forward Aaron Gordon paced Denver with 31 points and 11 rebounds, and Jokić added 26 points.

Gobert comes across as big

Gobert is always a target for scoff across the league, especially on social media. He was prepped to receive another dose of it when Braun stood up and dove over him. But instead, he closed in and responded with some huge plays down the stretch, including forcing a Braun miss at the rim and grabbing the rebound. And hitting two clutch free throws with 10 seconds to go.

“Rudy is one of the most mentally tough players I have ever coached,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “Mentally tough, physically tough. He gets cracks on his face and everywhere all the time. Mentally he is strong, regardless of whether people in the media come at him, or opponents come at him, or opponents come at him. He sees it as a challenge. He meets the moment. His teammates love him for that. He doesn’t retreat. He is feisty and willing to put his body on the line for us.”— Jon Krawczynski, Timberwolves beat writer

No hard feelings

There were no hard feelings between Braun and Gobert after the match. Both said the emotions of the moment were just that: emotions in a tense game. Gobert said he has always respected the way Braun competes.

“I have nothing against Braun,” Gobert said. “I actually think he’s a very good player. He’s a good boy. But it’s a big win for us, and the way we overcame adversity as a group tonight is the kind of win that I think makes you grow as a team.”

Braun said he didn’t go to Gobert for personal reasons and was instead just excited to make such an incredible play against the four-time Defensive Player of the Year.

“The reason I get so excited after that is because this is the best rim protector in the NBA,” Braun said. “So playing the best rim protector in the NBA doesn’t happen very often.”– Krawczynski

Momentum-building victory

This was an important win for the Timberwolves. They haven’t played a full game in this first five as they try to find their footing after trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Their defense has taken a big hit, falling from No. 1 in the league last year to 13th heading into this game. And they had given away a 12-point lead earlier in the fourth quarter. Had they not been able to complete the comeback, it would have been a demoralizing defeat for a bitter rival. Instead, this could be an energizing moment. They trailed by 10 with 3:36 to play and stormed back because of their defense, holding the Nuggets without a field goal and forcing three turnovers down the stretch.

“The best teams in this league aren’t always perfect, but they don’t hesitate,” Gobert said. “They never hesitate. They know how to regroup. They know how to refocus and be who they are when it matters most.”– Krawczynski

Required reading

(Photo: Matt Blewett / Imagn Images)