Minnesota Timberwolves: 43-Pt Bench Hero Rewrites History

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Minnesota Timberwolves – Bench Explodes for 112-96 Win, Lead Series 3-1

The box score from Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round began circulating online just before midnight ET, carrying a headline few saw coming. The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets 112-96, seizing a commanding 3-1 series lead despite losing two starters to leg injuries earlier in the night .

Pre-match expectations centered on the health of Anthony Edwards and the defensive battle between Rudy Gobert and Nikola Jokic. The result was shocking not because the Timberwolves won, but due to the historic nature of the victory: a reserve guard scoring 43 points in a playoff game—the highest output by a bench player in 50 years.

NBA Post-Game Report | Western Conference Playoffs | Game 4

Teams, Lineup & Game Details

Detail	Information
Event	NBA Playoffs West 1st Round – Game 4
Date	April 25, 2026
Venue	Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Start Time	8:30 PM ET
Attendance	19,426 (Sellout)
Game Duration	2 Hours 21 Minutes
Series Status	Minnesota leads 3-1
Officials	Jason Goldenberg, Marc Davis, Sean Wright, Pat Fraher
Final Score	Minnesota 112 – Denver 96

The atmosphere inside Target Center shifted from anxious to electric as the fourth quarter unfolded.

Key Players & Starting Lineups

Team	Key Hitters/Scorers	Key Pitchers/Defenders
Minnesota	Ayo Dosunmu (43 pts), Naz Reid (17 pts), Julius Randle (15 pts)	Rudy Gobert (4 Blk), Jaden McDaniels
Denver	Jamal Murray (30 pts), Nikola Jokic (24 pts, 15 reb)	Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon

Quarter‑by‑Quarter Scoring Breakdown

Period	Minnesota Pts	Denver Pts	Cumulative MIN	Cumulative DEN
1st	22	23	22	23
2nd	28	31	50	54
3rd	32	24	82	78
4th	30	18	112	96
Final	112	96	Total: 112	Total: 96

After trailing by seven points in the third quarter, Minnesota’s defense clamped down, holding Denver to just 18 points in the final frame.

The 3rd Period: A 9-0 Run That Rewrote History

Trailing 70-63, the Minnesota Timberwolves defense forced three consecutive turnovers. Bones Hyland and Ayo Dosunmu converted breakaway layups, followed by a Julius Randle steal and dunk. This sequence flipped the momentum permanently.

Play	Scoring Event	Score MIN	Score DEN
Hyland Steal	Breakaway Layup	65	70
Dosunmu Deflection	Fastbreak Layup	67	70
Randle Steal	One-handed Dunk	69	70
Dosunmu 3-pointer	Catch and Shoot	72	72

Denver’s defense collapsed during this stretch, failing to get back in transition as Nikola Jokic struggled to contain the perimeter speed.

Standout Performances & Player Highlights

Player	Team	Stats (MIN/PTS/REB/AST/STL/BLK)
Ayo Dosunmu	MIN	31 MIN, 43 PTS, 13-17 FG, 5-5 3PT, 12-12 FT, 6 REB, 2 STL
Jamal Murray	DEN	38 MIN, 30 PTS, 4 AST, 5 REB
Nikola Jokic	DEN	36 MIN, 24 PTS, 15 REB, 9 AST, 4 TO

Ayo Dosunmu delivered the most impactful performance in franchise playoff history. Acquired from Chicago in February, he became the first reserve to score 40+ in a playoff game since 1976.

Box Scores: Both Teams at a Glance

Minnesota Timberwolves – Full Hitting/Scoring Box Score

Hitter	Pos	MIN	PTS	FG	3P	FT	REB	AST	STL	BLK
A. Dosunmu	SG	31	43	13-17	5-5	12-12	6	2	2	0
N. Reid	C	28	17	6-12	2-5	3-4	9	2	0	1
J. Randle	PF	32	15	5-14	1-4	4-6	9	4	2	0
M. Conley	PG	20	9	3-6	2-4	1-1	2	4	1	0

Denver Nuggets – Full Hitting/Scoring Box Score

Hitter	Pos	MIN	PTS	FG	3P	FT	REB	AST	STL	BLK
J. Murray	PG	38	30	11-21	4-10	4-4	4	5	1	0
N. Jokic	C	36	24	9-18	0-3	6-7	15	9	1	1
M. Porter Jr.	SF	28	11	4-12	1-7	2-2	6	1	0	0

Denver out-rebounded Minnesota 48-42, but their 6-for-27 (22%) shooting from three-point range proved fatal.

Defensive Matchup Breakdown

Minnesota Timberwolves Defense

Defender	MIN	REB	STL	BLK	DEF RTG
R. Gobert	34	12	0	4	98.4
J. McDaniels	30	5	1	2	102.1
N. Reid	28	9	0	1	104.5

Denver Nuggets Defense

Defender	MIN	REB	STL	BLK	DEF RTG
N. Jokic	36	15	1	1	118.7
A. Gordon	32	7	1	0	115.2

Rudy Gobert anchored a defense that forced 16 Denver turnovers, converting them into 24 fast-break points.

Key Statistics Comparison Table

Statistic	Minnesota	Denver
Final Pts	112	96
Field Goals	38-77 (49.4%)	37-88 (42.0%)
Turnovers	10	16
3PM	14-31 (45.2%)	6-27 (22.2%)
Points in Paint	48	52
Fouls	19	22
Free Throws	22-26 (84.6%)	16-20 (80.0%)
Fast Break Pts	24	10
Bench Points	52	28

Quotes & Reactions

Ayo Dosunmu: “I just stayed ready. When your name is called, especially in the playoffs, you have to deliver. My coaches and teammates believed in me.”

Chris Finch (Wolves Coach): “That’s the highest level of focus I’ve seen from a bench unit. Ayo was spectacular, but our defensive intensity in the second half won this game.”

Nikola Jokic: “We couldn’t make shots. They were more physical. It is simple.”

Jamal Murray: “This series isn’t over. We have to go home and win one game at a time.”

Julius Randle (on late-game scuffle): “Playoff basketball. Emotions are high. We’re focused on getting one more win.”

Match Analysis: What Went Right & Wrong

Minnesota Timberwolves

Category	Analysis
What Went Right	Dosunmu’s 43-point explosion; forcing 16 turnovers; 5-5 3PM off bench
What Went Wrong	Slow start in first half; foul trouble for Gobert; injuries to Edwards and DiVincenzo
Offensive Strength	Transition offense (24 fast break points)
Defensive Strength	Perimeter lockdown (DEN shot 22% from 3)
Strategy	Blitzing Murray and rotating Dosunmu off screens

Denver Nuggets

Category	Analysis
What Went Right	Jokic near triple-double; Murray 30 points
What Went Wrong	6-for-27 from three; 16 turnovers; bench scored only 28
Offensive Weakness	Stagnant isolation plays in 4th quarter
Defensive Weakness	No answer for Dosunmu’s pick-and-roll reads
Strategy	Failed to adjust to Wolves’ small-ball lineup

Controversial moment: With 2.1 seconds remaining, Jaden McDaniels scored a meaningless layup. Nikola Jokic confronted him near the bench, resulting in double ejections for Jokic and Julius Randle.

Series / Season Timeline

Game	Date	Winner	Score
Game 1 (DEN)	Apr 19	Minnesota	116-105
Game 2 (DEN)	Apr 21	Denver	119-114
Game 3 (MIN)	Apr 24	Minnesota	113-96
Game 4 (MIN)	Apr 25	Minnesota	112-96

The Minnesota Timberwolves have won three straight after dropping Game 2, putting the reigning champions on the brink of elimination.

Conclusion

The Minnesota Timberwolves authored one of the most statistically anomalous playoff wins in modern NBA history. Without Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu produced a 43-point masterpiece off the bench—the first reserve 40-point playoff game in 50 years . The Wolves forced 16 turnovers, held Denver to 22% from three, and overcame a seven-point third-quarter deficit. Historically, teams leading 3-1 win the series 95% of the time. Minnesota now heads to Denver for Game 5 with a chance to close out the Western Conference favorites.

FAQs

Q: What was the final score of Timberwolves vs. Nuggets Game 4?

A: The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets 112-96 on April 25, 2026

Q: How many points did Ayo Dosunmu score off the bench?

A: Ayo Dosunmu scored 43 points on 13-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-5 from three-point range

Q: Why didn’t Anthony Edwards play in Game 4?

A: Anthony Edwards suffered a leg injury during Game 3 and was sidelined for Game 4

Q: What is the current series record between Minnesota and Denver?

A: The Minnesota Timberwolves lead the best-of-seven series 3-1

Q: Who was ejected at the end of Game 4?

A: Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets and Julius Randle of the Timberwolves were both ejected after a scuffle with 2.1 seconds remaining

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