Nuggets star enters concussion protocol

Anthony Edwards scored 29 points and shot 7 of 14 from 3-point range as the Minnesota Timberwolves escaped with a 119-116 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night in Minneapolis.

Julius Randle added 23 points, seven assists and six rebounds for Minnesota. Rudy Gobert scored 17 points and 14 rebounds, Naz Reid scored 16 off the bench and Jaden McDaniels added 10 points.

Aaron Gordon scored a game-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Denver. Nikola Jokic had 26 points, nine rebounds and 13 assists, and Michael Porter Jr. also recorded 26 points. Christian Braun added 14 points.

The Timberwolves trailed by 10 points in the fourth quarter before closing the game with a 17-4 run to secure the win.

Edwards scored the go-ahead shot at the basket with a floating jump shot that gave Minnesota a 117-116 lead with 25.7 seconds left. Gobert added two free throws with 10.1 seconds left to extend the lead to three.

Jokic shot a 3-point attempt from the right corner, but it failed in the final seconds.

Denver played down the stretch without guard Jamal Murray, who left the game in the third quarter after a collision with Randle. Murray was placed in the concussion protocol, said the Nuggets.

Despite Murray's absence, Denver went on a 25-3 run to take a 112-102 lead with 4:17 left. The run included a highlight-reel play from Braun, who vaulted a dunk over Gobert, the Timberwolves' 7-foot-1 center.

After the play, Braun yelled in celebration and slammed Gobert with his shoulder. The Timberwolves big man took offense, grabbed Braun and pushed him away.

Both players received a technical foul after the officials reviewed the play.

The Timberwolves had a 91-85 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Gordon made a 3-pointer to give Denver a 71-69 lead with 10 minutes left in the third quarter.

Randle answered with a 3-pointer that started a 10-1 Minnesota run. Gobert capped the run with an alley-oop dunk to give the Timberwolves a 79-72 lead with 7:05 left in the quarter.

Minnesota led 64-61 at halftime.

The Timberwolves jumped out to a 16-point lead in the second quarter. Donte DiVincenzo threw a pass to Gobert to the basket, giving Minnesota a 49-33 lead with 7:18 left.

The Nuggets responded with an 18-2 run to tie the score at 51-09 with 4:09 left in the half.

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