By Daniel Paiz

Experience can be the X-factor in close games, as the resilient Denver Nuggets win 115-107 in Game 4, tying the Western Conference Semifinals 2-2. Nikole Jokic had 35 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists for his 30th 30-point playoff triple-double of his career. Aaron Gordon added a massive 27 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, and Jamal Murray hit his marks with 19 points and eight assists. Denver’s bench also added 27 points to the mix.

Anthony Edwards made good on his promise to respond in Game 4; however, he was a lone wolf in this response, setting a franchise playoff record of 44 points. The rest of the starters shot 17-of-43 from the field despite each scoring in double digits. Minnesota seemed to have no answers to Denver’s passing and extra effort throughout the game.

Game 4 Recap

Game 4 feels a bit tighter to start, as both teams are getting shots to fall. Edwards is hitting early with nine points as the Wolves lead 15-9 with eight minutes to go. Denver needs to move the ball more and focus on defense; the good news is, Minnesota isn’t scoring outside of Edwards. Murray hits a bucket to cut it to 15-11. Jokic gets the ball at the top of the key, drives to the bucket and makes it 13-15 with 5:58 to go.

Reggie Jackson hits a big three and cuts it to 20-22, under four left. Denver is mostly making good decisions, just need to improve ball movement. Gordon has a fantastic drive through several defenders, hits the bucket and gets the foul call; hits the free throw, it’s Denver 23-22 with 2:30 left. Jackson three makes it 26-22. Jokic hits a buzzer-beater, and the Nuggets lead after one, 29-24.

Holiday hits two big threes to start the second quarter. Gordon drives and scores. Christian Braun does the same next possession. Denver leads 41-26 with 9:40 left, forcing a Minnesota timeout. Jokic hits a driving layup to make it 46-30, Murray then hits a hard-fought jumper to make it 48-34. This has turned into a slug fest, each team hitting buckets, Denver up 54-44 with just over a minute to go. Jokic has hit big shots, thrown down a slam and made a huge pass for a Gordon layup. These last few sequences were simply sublime. A Kentavious Caldwell-Pope three pointer, a Denver steal leading to a Michael Porter Jr. slam dunk. And then… Jamal. Murray. Hits a LONG shot from past halfcourt, Nuggets lead 64-49 at half.

73-58 with under 10 minutes to go in the third as Murray hits another three. Gordon then hits a big three and makes it 76-58. Gordon jams down hard on Gobert, making it 78-63. 81-65 as Murray now has 17 points. Denver is responding to every Minnesota score, and they are keeping the ball movement up. Jokic, however, now has four fouls. Big time shot from Holiday, making it 84-71 with under five minutes to go. Braun and Gordon free throws makes it 88-73 with just over two left. Denver lets Minnesota score six unanswered to close the third, still leads 90-79.

Jokic scores several times to make it 96-83 to start the fourth. Gobert scores off a Conely lob to make it 96-85, Denver timeout as the Nuggets need to both move the ball more and get some stops. 98-85 after Jokic free throws. Denver is fighting through it right now with lots of energy being used. Braun hits a wide open three pointer and it’s 101-88, timeout Minnesota. Gordon over Gobert from midrange makes it 103-90 with seven to go. 109-97 at the 3:30 mark, Denver takes a timeout here to regroup.

A Gordon dunk makes it 111-99; response met with response right now, as both teams are pushing themselves to victory. 113-104 after a Jokic floater. Free throws from the home team make it 113-107 with half a minute. Denver has to move the ball more here, and does with a Jokic layup, 115-107. That’s the final score after a Minnesota miss, and the Nuggets tie this series up 2-2.

Difference makers in Game 4, Keys to Game 5

27 to 13

Denver’s bench came to play today, as Braun had 11 points, three rebounds, Holiday had 10 points, three rebounds, and Jackson had six points, three assists. Minnesota really only had 11 points from Naz Reid, and there was little help for the starters outside of that. The open shots were hit by the visiting team, and the team defense with these bench guys also really helped. Game 5 will require a repeat performance.

57% and 45%

Denver shot 57 percent from the field, and nearly 45 percent from three-point land. When the Nuggets hit from downtown it leads to more spacing on the offensive side of the ball, and it forces the defense to not collapse as much to double team. When Jokic can get some spacing, his floater freezes opponents. The Nuggets also had a solid presence in the paint offensively and responded on defense when Minnesota started to hit shots. Shooting this well has to continue in Game 5.

Point Gordon

Nikola Jokic got into foul trouble for the first time this series, picking up his fourth foul at the 7:15 mark in the third quarter. Aaron Gordon responded beautifully, running the point at times and waiting for opportunities to open up on offense. It was tricky for Denver to risk not playing Jokic for a bit. But, with their refusal to play DeAndre Jordan in this series, Gordon playing the facilitator role and Justin Holiday stepping into Gordon’s usual role worked out well in Game 4. Effort and energy will be crucial on Tuesday.