Spencer Jones speaks after game five and how the Denver Nuggets answered the call.
The Denver Nuggets extended their first round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, winning game five, 125-113.
After failing to reach 100 points in games three and four, the Nuggets looked overwhelmed and overmatched physically against Minnesota.
In game five, Denver matched the intensity and aggressiveness of the Timberwolves on both ends of the floor.
While Minnesota was down Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo for the majority of game four and all of game five, Aaron Gordon missed game five for Denver.
Spencer Jones started in his place, and paid immediate dividends on offense and defense. Jones scored 20 points, knocking down four of five threes, and had three steals and three blocks.
Spencer Jones Stays Aggressive
Game five was always going to be a chippy affair given how game four ended between the two teams.
A scuffle started to close game four after Nikola Jokic took exception to Jaden McDaniels breaking an "unwritten rule" by scoring in the final after Denver had conceded with no comeback being possible. Jokic confronted McDaniels near the Minnesota bench, leading to pushing, shoving, and talking as players, coaches, and officials got involved to try and calm things down.
"I almost felt like the message at the end was as much for them as it was for us. We have to get it together down 3-1. The last few games, they brought the physicality to us. This game, we brought it to them with 14 turnovers in the first half. They just weren't comfortable," Jones said after game five.
Jones said the team talked about remaining aggressive, but also knowing when to pull it back.
"Right now, it's showing them we have a dog in the fight," he said.
A Wake Up Call
Jokic's actions at the end of game four showed that there was still a fire of some sorts in Denver and its players, it just needed to come out within the confines of a basketball game.
That's exactly what happened in game five.
"You're down 3-1, everyone thinks you need a wake up call. We just needed to match their physicality. I don't think we did that the first two games and we have to do it the rest of the series. That was the main wake up we needed," said Jones.
Denver forced 26 turnovers in game five, including 16 steals, which lead to 35 points off turnovers.
There is still work to be done for the Nuggets as they remain down 3-2 in the series, which now shifts back to Minnesota.