\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Denver Nuggets<\/a> dropped Game 2 at home in disappointing fashion. They fumbled a 19-point first half lead after a lengthy stretch of stagnant offense and shaky defense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ultimately, the blow lead can be the most to blame for the Nuggets loss. Denver missed out on a golden opportunity to snag Game 2 and head to Minnesota up 2-0 in the series.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, the Timberwolves<\/a> are still dealing with a hobbled <\/span>Anthony Edwards<\/span><\/a> \u2014 another reason the Nuggets should have two wins instead of one! \u2014 who has been dealing with runner\u2019s knee since the final weeks of the regular season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Edwards, 24, was inefficient in Game 1, including a minimally productive second-half. In Game 2, Edwards had brought more energy but still struggled to shoot a strong percentage from the field.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But it was his table-setting and playmaking that made the ultimate difference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Edwards identified a double-team and expertly bounced a pass to sharpshooting teammate <\/span>Donte DiVincezo<\/span><\/a>, who hit the biggest 3-pointer of the night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After the Nuggets squandered a 20-point lead against the Timberwolves in the series-deciding game two years ago \u2014 the largest blown lead in a Game 7 in NBA<\/a> history \u2014 they effectively had a repeat showing Monday night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Before Game 1\u2019s tipoff, many in the basketball world were ready to call this first round series the best of any opening round matchup in this year\u2019s playoffs.<\/span><\/p>\n Denver and Minnesota have had some classic games over recent years. This spring marks the third time in four years both franchises have met in the postseason.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Nuggets ousted the Wolves in five games in 2023. In the following playoffs, Minnesota exacted revenge by knocking out Denver in a Game 7 in the Mile High City.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For the Nuggets to feel better about their chances of advancing this postseason, they\u2019ll need to figure out a better defensive game plan. They\u2019ve struggled to guard in meaningful stretches in the two games played so far this series.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Getty<\/span>David Adelman is the head coach of the Denver Nuggets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Denver has shuffled defensive assignments on Edwards, but fourth-year pro <\/span>Christian Braun<\/span><\/a> has been the primary defender. But that\u2019s only because the Nuggets are without perhaps their best point-of-attack defender in <\/span>Peyton Watson<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Watson, 23, has dealt with a hamstring strain on two separate occasions this season, the latest setback coming late last month as the Nuggets were gearing up for the playoffs.<\/span><\/p>\n Watson initially strained his hamstring in early February, so it has been nearly three months since he has gotten to string together consistent availability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Watson missed Games 1 and 2. He has been participating in isolated activities during Nuggets practice as he attempts to ramp back up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n According to ESPN, the Nuggets revealed today they expect Watson will remain out as the series shifts to Minnesota, but the team is hopeful the 23-year-old star will return <\/span>sometime in the first round<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Nuggets are without fourth-year wing <\/span>Peyton Watson<\/span><\/a>, one of their better perimeter defenders and shot blockers,\u201d ESPN wrote. \u201cHe is dealing with a hamstring strain and worked off to the side at Wednesday\u2019s practice. [Nuggets head coach David] Adelman said that the hope is to get Watson back in this series at some point but that the expectation is he will remain out for Game 3.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In the last 30 meetings between the Nuggets and Wolves, each time has 15 victories. It doesn\u2019t get more closely contested than that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Regaining Watson, who averaged 14.6 points per game on over 49% shooting from the field in the regular season, would be a huge boost for Denver, but this series has all the makings of heading toward a sixth or seventh game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Game 3 is set to tip off at Target Center at 8:30 p.m on Thursday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n\t\t\tAdel Ahmad<\/strong><\/a> Adel is a writer with over five years of experience covering the NBA. His work has appeared on various media platforms, both national and local. More about Adel Ahmad<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories<\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><\/p>\nDenver Nuggets Hoping for Defensive Boost as Series Shifts Cities<\/b><\/h2>\n
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<\/figure>\nWhat\u2019s the Latest on the Rising Star\u2019s Injury?<\/b><\/h2>\n
More Heavy on Nuggets<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n