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MINNEAPOLIS — In a dazzling display of talent, Ayo Dosunmu dropped a career-high 43 points, stepping up significantly after injuries sidelined both Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. His stellar performance marked the highest-scoring playoff effort by a bench player in five decades, propelling the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 112-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.
This triumph handed the Timberwolves a commanding 3-1 series lead. The game concluded with drama as Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Minnesota’s Julius Randle were ejected following a heated exchange. The tension arose when Jaden McDaniels made an inconsequential layup with just 2.1 seconds remaining, prompting Jokic to confront McDaniels near the Timberwolves’ bench.
Before the ejections stole the spotlight, Dosunmu’s performance was the talk of the night. His 43 points off the bench were the most since Fred Brown tallied 45 for Seattle in a playoff game against Phoenix on April 15, 1976.
With this victory, the Timberwolves have now won three consecutive games and stand poised to clinch the series in Game 5, set to take place in Denver on Monday.
Dosunmu’s sharp shooting was on full display as he hit 13 of 17 shots, including a flawless 5 for 5 from three-point range, and successfully converted all 12 of his free throws. His outstanding contribution surpassed expectations since being traded from Chicago in February.
Naz Reid had 17 points and nine rebounds for Minnesota, while Randle added 15 points and nine boards.
Jamal Murray led Denver with 30 points. Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists for the Nuggets, who were just 6 for 27 (22%) from beyond the arc.
The Nuggets led by seven in the third quarter before the Timberwolves used their defense to get back into the game. Bones Hyland and Dosunmu scored breakaway layups on consecutive possessions after Minnesota forced the Nuggets to turn it over near halfcourt.
Randle added a steal and fast-break dunk to put the Wolves up by four after three quarters.
Dosunmu had another steal and layup as part of a 9-0 run early in the fourth quarter that gave Minnesota a 95-82 lead.
The basket that pushed the lead into double digits was a 3-pointer by 38-year-old Mike Conley, who played 20 minutes while filling in for DiVincenzo and Edwards.