Looking back on the Denver Nuggets losing in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Denver Nuggets saw their season end in disappointing fashion as they lost in six games to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.
Losing in the first round as a three seed is always a tough pill to swallow, and while the Timberwolves are a formidable team having been to the Western Conference Finals the past two seasons, they were without Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo from the second half of game four through the end of the series.
Denver entered the season with high expectations given the changes they made in upgrading their bench, trading Michael Porter Jr, and returning a core that included arguably the best player in the world.
So who is to blame for the first round exit?
3. Christian Braun
In the offseason, Braun signed a five-year $125 million extension that is set to kick in next season. Committing that much time and money to Braun was a bet the Nuggets were willing to take given his fit and impact during his first three seasons with Denver.
He averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 39% from three in 2024-25 and was one of Denver's better point-of-attack defenders.
His scoring numbers were down in the 2025-26 regular season, and in the playoffs he was practically invisible.
He averaged 8.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in the six game series. He shot 42% from three, but on just 2.3 attempts. Defensively, he failed to stay in front of any of the Minnesota guards, whether it was Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, or Ayo Dosunmu.
With a major extension about to kick in, this was not the performance Denver fans could be encouraged by.
2. Jamal Murray
Murray had a career regular season, posting highs in points, rebounds, and assists. He also had his most efficient season, shooting 48% from the field and 43% from three.
Murray has always been known as a playoff riser with his highlight reel of clutch shot making speaking for itself.
Against Minnesota, he seemed to struggle with the length and size of the defenders, shooting just 35% from the field and 26% from three, averaging 23.7 points in the six games.
Along with his shooting woes, Murray was often hunted on defense by Minnesota's guards, as he failed to stay in front of them or bother them at all.
1. Nikola Jokic
Statistically, Murray had a rougher series than Jokic. But when you're heralded as the best player in the world, the expectations are simply higher.
Jokic played well enough in three games in the series, two of which Denver won, but his performances in games two, three, and in particular four, will be forever remembered.
In those three games, he averaged 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 6.7 assists on 33% shooting and 15% from three.
When Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo went down with injury in the first half of game four, and Denver already trailing in the series 2-1, the team needed Jokic to take over in the second half to steal a game on the road and put themselves in a better position to win the series.
He went 1-10 in the second half with one assist and three turnovers, and Denver now faced a 3-1 deficit. He was better in games five and six, but the team ultimately lost, and never won a game on the road.
Fair or unfair, Jokic needed to be much better.