The Minnesota Timberwolves still lead 3-2 in the series.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were riding high with a 3-1 coming into game five against the Denver Nuggets as they looked to shut the door on their conference rivals' season, and it was that abundance of energy that head coach Chris Finch thinks led to their downfall.
The Nuggets bounded back with a 112-96 victory to make the series 3-2 and save for a resurgent fourth quarter by Minnesota, Denver dominated the entire game.
Both teams went into a game five with the tension high.
The way that game four ended with a Minnesota blowout and flared tempers when Jaden McDaniels poked the bear that is Nikola Jokic by driving in for a layup when the game was all but finished meant that the Timberwolves were feeling the wind at their backs while Nuggets had a chip on their shoulders.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) controls the ball as Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) guards in the third quarter during game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn ImagesEnergy Vs. Execution
The Timberwolves had every right to go into game five with confidence, but Finch thinks their desire to close out the series then and there led to them making some easy mistakes that could have otherwise been avoided.
"The ball movement was there. We didn't make the plays that were right in front of us," Finch said (via Timberwolves). "I thought there was really good opportunities to make those plays. I though we started the game wanting to make all the home run plays, instead of all the plays that help us get into the ballgame."
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland (8) controls the ball under pressure from Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) and center Nikola Jokic (15) in the second quarter during game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn ImagesMinnesota's biggest strength through the series has been physicality, and that wasn't lacking against, but it was the Timberwolves' execution in the opportunities they created for themselves that was lacking.
Turnovers Turned the Tide
Their biggest issues in the game were turnovers. While they only committed 12 turnovers in the game, those turnovers came in costly moments that kept Minnesota from gaining any momentum in the game to try and turn the tide.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) controls the ball in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets during game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn ImagesThey still have a 3-2 advantage in the series, which leaves them with time to regroup and make the necessary adjustments to close out the series.
With game six heading back to Minnesota, the Timberwolves will have the home court advantage back on their side and an opportunity to swing the momentum back to their side.
Even with the energy at their backs, they'll still need to maintain their compare to the occasion. Fundamentally, they've still been playing their best basketball and the comeback they mounted in the fourth quarter is a good sign for what they're capable of.
Now it just falls to execution in the biggest moments for the Timberwolves to move on to the second round.