The Denver Nuggets got off to a hot start in game two of their first round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, jumping out to a 39-25 lead.

The Nuggets were led by Jamal Murray, who scored 11 points on 3-5 shooting, with all three made field goals being from beyond the arc. He also knocked down two free throws, continuing his hot streak from the line in game one. 

On top of his scoring, he had three rebounds and three assists. 

Nikola Jokic did what Nikola Jokic does, dishing five assists, and the Nuggets got contributions from Tim Hardaway Jr and Christian Braun, each of whom had eight points. 

Unfortunately for the Nuggets, despite their hot start, it all disappeared in the second quarter. 

The Nuggets continued their offensive onslaught to open the second quarter, scoring the first five points to run their lead up to 19. 

After that, it was all Minnesota. 

The Timberwolves would go on to win the second quarter by the same score the Nuggets won the first, 39-25, tying things up going into halftime. 

Speaking after the game, Murray was asked if the Nuggets just had a letdown in the second quarter. 

"No, they responded. I felt like it was four foul calls in a row. We didn't get a shot off. I'm not blaming the officials, but that was part of it," he said. 

There were multiple stretches in the second where the Nuggets racked up fouls, including early in the quarter when Jonas Valanciunas was called for two fouls and a technical foul, and Spencer Jones was whistled for an offensive foul. 

In the first three and a half minutes of the quarter, the Timberwolves cut the lead to eight. 

In the middle of the quarter, Aaron Gordon was called for two fouls and Jokic was called for a foul, all of which led to the Timberwolves taking a 49-48 lead with 5:18 left in the quarter. 

Denver still had its opportunity to at least tie the game in the closing seconds, but Jokic passed up a floater to feed Braun underneath the basket. Braun bobbled the ball and was fouled down two. He split the free throws. 

Asked what he would say to Braun after the missed free throw, Murray replied, "I missed three or four straight shots before that. It's going to happen. We all have to be better and can play better. It's not on one person. They played hard as well. It was a good game. I thought we had the game in our hands and we didn't make enough shots."

After his hot start, Murray did go 1-5 in the fourth, missing both of his three point attempts.