The decisive moment
The Denver Nuggets delivered their most composed performance of the 2025-26 season NBA Playoffs to keep their championship hopes alive. Entering Game 5 facing a 3-1 deficit, Denver leveraged their home-court advantage to pull away in the second half and secure a 125-113 win. The Nuggets' offensive execution proved too much for a Minnesota Timberwolves defense that struggled without its primary stoppers.
Denver’s ability to control the tempo in the fourth quarter ensured there would be no late-game heroics from the visiting Timberwolves. With a 12-point margin of victory, the Nuggets demonstrated the resilience required to navigate elimination games. The series now returns to Minneapolis, where the pressure shifts squarely onto a depleted Minnesota squad to close the door.
By the numbers
- Final Score: Denver Nuggets 125, Minnesota Timberwolves 113
- Series Standing: Minnesota leads 3-2 in the best-of-seven series
- Victory Margin: 12 points for the Nuggets
- Timberwolves Injuries: Anthony Edwards (knee hyperextension), Donte DiVincenzo (ruptured Achilles)
- Nuggets Injuries: Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Peyton Watson (hamstring)
- Venue: Ball Arena, Denver
The result marks a critical turning point in the series as Denver avoids elimination on their home floor. Despite missing Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets found enough internal production to exploit a Timberwolves rotation that is currently missing two of its most impactful starters.
What it means
The landscape of this 2025-26 season NBA Playoffs matchup has shifted dramatically due to recent roster availability. While the Timberwolves still hold a one-game lead in the series, the momentum has swung toward the Nuggets following the devastating injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Edwards is expected to miss several weeks with a bone bruise, while DiVincenzo is out for the season after Achilles surgery.
For Denver, this win provides the blueprint for a historical comeback. Only a handful of teams have ever successfully recovered from a 3-1 series deficit, but with Minnesota’s core compromised, the Nuggets have a clear opening. Minnesota faces a daunting reality as they return home, needing to find a new offensive identity to avoid a winner-take-all Game 7 back in Denver.
What to watch next
Game 6 will take place at Target Center in Minneapolis, where the Timberwolves will have their final home opportunity to clinch the series. All eyes will be on how head coach Chris Finch adjusts his rotation and whether Ayo Dosunmu can return from his calf injury to provide backcourt depth. Denver will look to maintain their offensive aggression and force a decisive seventh game.