The Denver Nuggets are staring down elimination, but they're not going down without a fight. After falling into a 3-1 series hole against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the defending champions kept their hopes alive with a gritty Game 5 win on Tuesday night. Now, they head back to Minnesota for a must-win Game 6 on Thursday.
History is not on Denver's side—fewer teams than you can count on one hand have rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win a playoff series. But the Nuggets are showing signs of life. Nikola Jokić delivered another masterclass in Game 5, posting a 27-point, 12-rebound, 16-assist triple-double that powered Denver to a decisive victory. Four of the Nuggets' starters combined for nearly 90 points, a balanced attack that has been missing in their previous three losses.
The Timberwolves, meanwhile, are dealing with a major setback. Star guard Anthony Edwards—arguably a top-10 player in the league—will miss Game 6, a crushing blow for a team that had held Denver under 120 points in each of its three wins. Minnesota will need Julius Randle to build on his 27-point, 9-rebound Game 5 performance, and Rudy Gobert must find a way to slow down Jokić's offensive brilliance. Adding to their woes, guard Ayo Dosunmu has been ruled out for Game 6 due to a calf injury.
Game 6 tips off Thursday night on ABC and will stream live on the ESPN app. For fans without cable, you can catch all the action—including NBA, NFL, MLB, and college sports—directly through the ESPN app.
Elsewhere in the playoffs, Victor Wembanyama made headlines after his first playoff series win, refusing to apologize for the tears he shed on court. "I refuse to carry the burden," the young star said. Meanwhile, the Rockets pulled off a rare playoff feat without Kevin Durant, joining just 15 other teams in NBA history. And in Washington, John Wall was named president of basketball operations at Howard University, returning to the nation's capital. Finally, LeBron James fired back at Alperen Sengün after the Rockets center complained about a foul call in Game 5, calling the complaint "soft."