NBA Playoffs: Jokic, Murray Lead Nuggets Past Gritty Wolves; Knicks Hustle Hawks

Last Updated:April 19, 2026, 07:27 IST

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray lead the Nuggets past the Timberwolves, while Brunson and Mitchell shine in the East. Durant’s injury adds early drama to the NBA playoffs.

The Denver Nuggets kicked off their playoff run with a hard-fought 116-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, leaning on the brilliance of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

Jokic delivered a 25-point triple-double (13 rebounds, 11 assists), shaking off a slow start that saw him score just six points in the first half. Murray, meanwhile, kept Denver in the contest early with 17 first-half points, finishing with 30 and a flawless 16-for-16 from the free-throw line.

The game at Ball Arena was predictably physical — over 40 fouls, a flagrant on Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels, and even a technical on Nuggets coach David Adelman.

Denver trailed by as many as 12 in the first quarter before regrouping and taking control after halftime.

Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 22 points, while Rudy Gobert added 17 and 10 rebounds, but they struggled to contain Denver’s late surge.

Knicks, Cavaliers Make Early Statements

Over in the East, both the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers opened their campaigns with authority.

Jalen Brunson starred with 28 points in a 113-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden, scoring 19 in the first quarter alone. Karl-Anthony Towns took over late, pouring in 19 of his 25 in the second half.

In Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell dropped 32 points in a 126-113 win over the Toronto Raptors, extending his record to nine straight playoff openers with 30+ points.

Durant Sidelined as Lakers-Rockets Series Begins

The final game brought added intrigue, with the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Houston Rockets. But the headline matchup took a hit as Kevin Durant was ruled out with a bruised knee.

“Hopefully it’s a one-game thing," said Rockets coach Ime Udoka.

That leaves LeBron James, now 41 and in his 23rd season, carrying the load for a depleted Lakers side missing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

(with agency inputs)

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