Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets yells to teammates from the bench during the third quarter of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 113-96 win at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Minnesota took a 2-1 best-of-seven series lead. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jamal Murray (27) and Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets await the start of the action before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets speaks to his father, Roger, before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets and Rudy Gobert (27) of the Minnesota Timberwolves tip off the action during the first quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Spencer Jones (21) of the Denver Nuggets defends Julius Randle (30) of the Minnesota Timberwolves with his face during the first quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Rudy Gobert (27) of the Minnesota Timberwolves finishes a lob by Naz Reid (11) as Bruce Brown (11) and Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets defend during the third quarter of the Timberwolves’ 113-96 win at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Minnesota took a 2-1 best-of-seven series lead. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets uses a screen by Nikola Jokic (15) as Anthony Edwards (5) of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends tightly during the first quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Julian Strawther (3) of the Denver Nuggets helps up Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) after a three pointer by Hardaway during the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Donte DiVincenzo (0) of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts to hitting a three pointer over Bruce Brown (11) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Head coach David Adelman of the Denver Nuggets speaks with assistant coach JJ Barea during the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jaden McDaniels (3) of the Minnesota Timberwolves forces a miss by Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter of the Timberwolves’ 113-96 win at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Minnesota took a 2-1 best-of-seven series lead. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets flips the ball after a foul by Spencer Jones (21) during the fourth quarter of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 113-96 win at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Minnesota took a 2-1 best-of-seven series lead. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Julius Randle (30) and Naz Reid (11) of the Minnesota Timberwolves defend Zeke Nnaji (22) of the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter of the Timberwolves’ 113-96 win at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Minnesota took a 2-1 best-of-seven series lead. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets bats a rebound backwards as Ayo Dosunmu (13) and Rudy Gobert (27) of the Minnesota Timberwolves defend during the second quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Christian Braun (0) and Spencer Jones (21) of the Denver Nuggets defend Anthony Edwards (5) of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Bruce Brown (11) of the Denver Nuggets catches the ball after Ayo Dosunmu (13) of the Minnesota Timberwolves hustled to save it during the fourth quarter of the Timberwolves’ 113-96 win at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Minnesota took a 2-1 best-of-seven series lead. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Bones Hyland (8) of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates after cooking Spencer Jones (21) of the Denver Nuggets before hitting a three pointer during the third quarter of the Timberwolves’ 113-96 win at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Minnesota took a 2-1 best-of-seven series lead. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Naz Reid (11) and Rudy Gobert (27) of the Minnesota Timberwolves defend Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Julius Randle (30) of the Minnesota Timberwolves forces an awkward miss from Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets reacts to his team’s sluggish play during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jaden McDaniels (3) of the Minnesota Timberwolves scores over Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets defends Rudy Gobert (27) of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Donte DiVincenzo (0) of the Minnesota Timberwolves passes in transition as Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets gets turned around during the second quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Julius Randle (30) of the Minnesota Timberwolves scores as Nikola Jokic (15) and Cameron Johnson (23) of the Denver Nuggets watch during the second quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Christian Braun (0) and Spencer Jones (21) of the Denver Nuggets chew on towels as they sit on the bench during the third quarter of the Timberwolves’ 113-96 win at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Minnesota took a 2-1 best-of-seven series lead. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Rudy Gobert (27) of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Donte DiVincenzo (0) of the Minnesota Timberwolves steals a pass by Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) of the Denver Nuggets during the second quarter at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
A Minnesota Timberwolves fan jaws with Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) of the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter of the Timberwolves’ 113-96 win at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Minnesota took a 2-1 best-of-seven series lead. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Tim Hardaway Sr. jaws with a Minnesota Timberwolves fan after the man traded words with Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) of the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter of the Timberwolves’ 113-96 win at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Minnesota took a 2-1 best-of-seven series lead. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Donte DiVincenzo (0) and Jaden McDaniels (3) of the Minnesota Timberwolves laugh in the hallway after the Timberwolves’ 113-96 win over the Denver Nuggets at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Minnesota took a 2-1 best-of-seven series lead. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets leaves the floor after the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 113-96 win at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Minnesota took a 2-1 best-of-seven series lead. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets yells to teammates from the bench during the third quarter of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 113-96 win at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Minnesota took a 2-1 best-of-seven series lead. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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By AAron Ontiveroz | aontiveroz@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED:
Getting your player ready...
The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 113-96 in Game 3 of their best-of-seven series in the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
