Each team’s respective superstars were largely terrible in Game 3 on Thursday in Minneapolis.

Nikola Jokic couldn’t hit a shot and was entirely disengaged defensively.

The exact same things could be said of Anthony Edwards.

Yet the latter didn’t matter, as the rest of Minnesota’s roster out-classed Denver’s en route to a 113-96 Wolves’ win to give Minnesota a 2-1 series lead.

Edwards finished with just 17 points on 6 for 15 shooting. But six Wolves scored in double figures, led by 25 from Ayo Dosunmu and 20 points and 10 boards from Jaden McDaniels.

Minnesota still managed 31 asssits on a night when it couldn’t hit from deep and tallied 66 points in the paint.

Yet the primary story for Minnesota was its defensive performance. It held the Nuggets to just 11 points on 3 for 21 shooting in the opening frame. Denver shot just 34% for the game, including 25% from deep. Jokic contributed mightily to those struggles, going 7 for 26 from the floor.

Denver’s roster is signficantly depleted, as the Nuggets are sans two of their top six players. Peyton Watson has missed all three games of the series with a hamstring strain, while Aaron Gordon missed Thursday’s affair with calf tightness.

Without those guys, Denver lacks the length, athleticism and shot creation to get much of anything going on either end of the floor.

Minnesota, meanwhile, seems to have a bevy of options available. Donte DiVincenzo and Dosunmu each created Thursday, finishing with seven and nine assists apiece. Rudy Gobert continues to play well around the rim as Denver proves unable to keep Minnesota out of the paint.