The Denver Nuggets came into their first round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves as favorites, being the three seed and riding the momentum of an 11-game win streak to close the season. 

The Nuggets took game one, and looked to be on their way to a second round showdown with the San Antonio Spurs. 

Nikola Jokic recorded a triple double in game one, getting anything and everything he wanted with 25 points on 11-19 shooting, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. Though Rudy Gobert is a multi-time defensive player of the year, Jokic showed why he is a multi-time MVP and heralded as one of the greatest offensive players to ever step foot on the court. 

While Jokic overmatched Gobert in game one, the next three games were a completely different story. 

In games two through four, Jokic averaged 25 points, 15 reboudns, and 6.7 assists while shooting 33% from the field and 15% from three. For the first time all season when Jokic had played, the Nuggets were held under 100 points. The Timberwolves managed to do it twice, holding Denver to 96 points in games three and four. 

When matched up against each other in game two, Gobert held Jokic to two points on 1-8 shooting. Jokic found more successful in totals in game three, scoring 19 points when matched up against Gobert, but it took him 18 field goal attempts. Game four was a similar story where Jokic scored 14 points on 17 attempts when guarded by Gobert. 

Jokic played much better in games five and six, averaging 27.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 13 assists on 58% shooting from the field, but just 22% from three. 

It was too little too late though, and he didn't get much help from the rest of the team in game six, which brought an end to the Denver season. 

After game six, the Timberwolves center was asked about the job he did on Jokic throughout the series. 

"I live for this. Facing one of the greatest offensive players of all-time, over the course of a playoff series, as a competitor, it's what you dream about. I was just trying to embrace the moment every single minute that I'm on the court. Just enjoy that. Make him work, challenge him as much as I can and win. At the end of the day, it's about winning. It was a great challenge and I couldn't ask for any better challenge," he said. 

This was the second straight series where Gobert and the Timberwolves were able to get the better of Jokic and the Nuggets. 

In 2024, Denver held a 3-2 series advantage, but lost game six, 115-70 and game seven, 98-90. In that series, Denver was held below 100 points in all four losses. This year, they were held below 100 points in three of the four losses.