Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, forward, reacts after being called for a foul on Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half of their Game 1 first round playoff game, Sunday, April 16, 2023 in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 24 points and eight assists in his first postseason game since the 2020 NBA bubble, and the top-ranked Denver Nuggets routed the NBA’s Timberwolves 109-80 Sunday at Minnesota.

Nikola Jokic had 13 points, 14 rebounds and a half-dozen assists in 28 minutes, while Michael Porter Jr. scored 18 points and Denver snapped a five-game losing streak in the playoff openers. .

Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 18 points. Karl-Anthony Towns, still in form after missing 52 games with a calf injury, missed 10 of his first 12 shots and finished with 11 points.

The Timberwolves haven’t had a game down since Nov. 19, 2016.

Jokic said during the Nuggets’ bye week that he was looking forward to seeing how they fared with Murray and Porter, back from injuries and surgeries that kept Denver out of the last two playoffs. with its three big stars.

The answer was clear: the trio had 55 points, 33 rebounds and 16 assists, with only two turnovers in total. Denver’s five starters all posted double digits, as did backup Bruce Brown, who finished with 14.

The Timberwolves were playing without starting Jaden McDaniels, their top perimeter defenseman, who broke his right hand when he hit a wall in Minnesota’s last regular season game.

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