Box scores bury the story. You see 110-98 and miss why Minnesota won without Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, or Ayo Dosunmu. This guide breaks down the Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets match player stats from Game 6 on April 30, 2026. You will see who scored, who stalled, and which runs decided the series.
A Quick Look at the Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets Player Stats
Minnesota beat Denver 110-98 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The win closed the Western Conference first-round series 4-2 for the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves entered as the No. 6 seed. They played without three guards, yet they outrebounded Denver 50-33 and won the paint 64-40.
Final Score and Quarter-by-Quarter Table
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Denver Nuggets | 30 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 98 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 29 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 110 |
Denver won only the first quarter, by one point. Minnesota won the other three.
Team Stats Comparison
| Category | Timberwolves | Nuggets |
| Points in the paint | 64 | 40 |
| Total rebounds | 50 | 33 |
| Three-pointers | Not verified | 10 of 27 (37%) |
| Halftime score | 57 | 50 |
The paint gap tells most of the story. Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid kept attacking the rim while Denver relied on outside shots.
Player Scoring Table: Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Match Player Stats
| Player | Team | Points | Other numbers |
| Jaden McDaniels | MIN | 32 | 10 rebounds |
| Nikola Jokić | DEN | 28 | 10 assists, 9 rebounds |
| Cameron Johnson | DEN | 27 | Led Denver’s 10-for-27 night from deep |
| Terrence Shannon Jr. | MIN | 24 | Surprise starter |
| Jamal Murray | DEN | 12 | 4-for-17 shooting |
| Rudy Gobert | MIN | 10 | 13 rebounds, 8 assists |
I list only players whose lines the AP recap confirms. Randle, Reid, Conley, and the other rotation players also played big roles, so check the full box score for their exact totals.
Top Player of the Game: Jaden McDaniels
McDaniels earned the top spot with 32 points and 10 rebounds. He also defended Jamal Murray, who finished with 12 points on 4-for-17 shooting.
He scored the biggest bucket too. With 1:06 left, he hit a 19-foot pull-up that put Minnesota up seven. He then stole a Jokić pass to start the closing free-throw parade.
Gobert deserves a close second. His 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists came with rim protection that bothered Jokić all night.
Step-by-Step Stats: How the Game Unfolded
Read the game in four steps, and the result makes sense.
- Quarter 1: Denver opened 7-2. Minnesota answered with an 11-0 run, and Denver finished the quarter ahead 30-29.
- Quarter 2: Gobert threw down an alley-oop from Mike Conley. Minnesota then outscored Denver 17-8 late in the half and led 57-50 at the break.
- Quarter 3: Jokić’s hook shot tied the game at 67. The Timberwolves closed the quarter on a 15-7 run and led 82-74.
- Quarter 4: Denver cut the lead to one at 85-86. Minnesota pulled away behind McDaniels and Shannon.
Special Moments That Shaped the Game
Four moments stand out in the Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets match player stats story:
- The 11-0 opening answer: Randle’s three-pointer, set up by Gobert, capped Minnesota’s early run.
- Gobert’s late-half block: He rejected Jokić at the basket with 25 seconds left in the second quarter.
- The fourth-quarter technicals: Jokić, Jaylen Clark, and Naz Reid all drew technical fouls at 9:47. The tension never broke.
- Shannon’s three-point play: It gave Minnesota a six-point cushion with 1:43 left and sealed Denver’s fate.
Why Jokić and Murray Could Not Close the Gap
Jokić posted a near triple-double with 28 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. Murray did not give him enough help.
McDaniels chased Murray around the perimeter all night. Gobert protected the paint when Jokić drove, and Denver turned the ball over late. That combination capped the Nuggets’ offense.
Why Minnesota Won Without Its Guards
Edwards, DiVincenzo, and Dosunmu sat out, so coach Chris Finch went big. Gobert, Randle, and Reid fed the paint and the boards.
Shannon added speed that Denver could not stop in transition. McDaniels handled both ends. Every player filled a clear role, and the Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets match player stats reflect it.
How to Read Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets Match Player Stats Like an Analyst
Points alone mislead. Use this checklist when you read any box score:
- Check shooting efficiency. Murray’s 4-for-17 night explains Denver’s scoring drop better than his 12 points.
- Compare rebounding and paint scoring. A 17-rebound edge and a 24-point paint edge usually decide games.
- Look at who defended whom. McDaniels’ assignment mattered as much as his scoring.
- Track runs, not totals. The 11-0 and 15-7 runs swung this game.
Series Context: 2026 Western Conference First Round
Minnesota won the series 4-2. Denver took Game 1, 116-105, behind 30 points from Murray and a triple-double from Jokić. Minnesota then won three of the next four games, including this clincher.
The rivalry stays hot. These teams also met in the 2024 conference semifinals, and Minnesota won that series in seven games.
What Comes Next
Minnesota advanced to face the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs in round two. Denver’s offseason now focuses on finding more help for Jokić.
The two teams also met in NBA Summer League on July 11, 2026, when Denver won 101-82. Those rosters carry little weight, so I leave them out of the main analysis.
Sources and Method
I built this page from primary sources:
- AP game recap via CBS Sports gametracker, for player lines, run details, and play-by-play
- ESPN Game 6 box score, for quarter scores
- ESPN Game 1 summary, for series context
Your Next Step
Now you know how the Timberwolves vs Denver Nuggets match player stats tell the Game 6 story. Open the full box score, pick one player, and track his shots quarter by quarter. Share this page with the fan in your group who only watches the final score.
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