Nikola Jokić was outplayed by Rudy Gobert on Monday night as the Minnesota Timberwolves stunned the Denver Nuggets 119-114.
What happened?
The Nuggets appeared to be cruising to a 2-0 series lead, opening a 19-point advantage over the Timberwolves.
But the Timberwolves rallied to take the lead in the second quarter and again in the fourth against a Nuggets team that looked outmatched and out of gas.
Nikola Jokić let the game come to him early, not attempting a field goal as Denver opened up a 28-13 first-quarter lead.
Why it matters for Nikola Jokić
Jokić settled into his role as a playmaker and thrived, racking up five assists before taking his first shot from the field.
But after the Timberwolves punched back to take the lead, Jokić was largely a non-factor as a scorer, especially when matched up with Gobert.
Jokić scored just six points in the first half and shot 1 of 7 in the final frame as Gobert repeatedly challenged him at the rim.
What comes next?
The series is now tied at 1-1 and headed to Minnesota for Game 3, and it's anybody's game.
Nikola Jokić finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists, but he faltered down the stretch, turning the ball over three times and shooting just 8 of 20 from the field and 1 of 7 from 3.
Gobert's impact on the game was evident, limiting Jokić to two fourth-quarter points.
The Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards persevered through a lingering knee injury, finishing with a team-high 30 points and 10 rebounds.
Edwards has two days off to rest his ailing knee before Game 3 on Thursday night.
How he continues to play through pain could very well tilt the balance of the series.
The Nuggets' depth is still an issue, as they effectively ran a seven-man rotation on Monday night.
Denver looked like the road team playing in elevation, and their tight rotation has them looking gassed again after two games.