MINNEAPOLIS — Nikola Jokic scored 16 of his 31 points in the first quarter and the Denver Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-103 on Thursday night.
JaVale McGee had 12 points and 13 rebounds, and Vlatko Cancar scored a career-high 14 points off the bench for Denver.
Denver sits No. 4 in the Western Conference, a game behind the Los Angeles Clippers for third.
Anthony Edwards scored 18 of his 29 points in the third quarter for Minnesota. Karl-Anthony Towns added 20 points and 11 rebounds, and D’Angelo Russell had 17 points.
>>Video above: Commentary: Without Jamal Murray, don't expect much from the Nuggets in the playoffs
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