NBA playoffs 2026: Jamal Murray caps wild Nuggets-Timberwolves half with buzzer-beating heave from beyond halfcourt
Denver and Minnesota have played some wild playoff games with meetings in three out of the last four postseasons. Monday's first half lived up to the rivalry's billing.
Well, that was a wild half of playoff basketball. The Denver Nuggets raced out to a 44-25 lead and appeared to be cruising to a 2-0 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night. But the Timberwolves punched back with a 39-25 advantage in the second quarter by repeatedly attacking Denver’s interior defense and almost went into halftime with the lead.
But Jamal Murray, who paced Denver’s Game 1 win with 30 points and took control of its offense again early against Minnesota, ensured that the game would go into the break tied at 64. After an Anthony Edwards travel gave the ball back to the Nuggets with 2. 6 seconds remaining, the Nuggets retook possession in the backcourt, trailing by 3.
They got the ball to their hot hand on an inbounds pass, and Murray launched a shot from beyond the backcourt side of the logo. jamal murray half court buzzer beater; wolves vs nuggets pic. twitter.
com/Fb5bAK2P44 — ◇ (@F0RGIAT0) April 21, 2026 The ball sank through the net at the buzzer, and the Nuggets went into halftime with momentum that they’d previously relinquished to the Timberwolves. These teams have played some wild playoff games with meetings in three of the past four postseasons. Monday’s first half lived up to the rivalry’s billing.