For the second straight season, defensive rebounding issues have ended the Minnesota Timberwolves’ season.
One year ago, the Wolves’ inability to clear the glass sunk them against the Memphis Grizzlies. It reared its ugly head in the clutch once again during Minnesota’s 112-109 Game 5 defeat to the Denver Nuggets, ending the first-round series.
The Nuggets grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and turned them into 21 second-chance points, seven of which came in the fourth quarter as Denver held off a feisty Wolves team. Nikola Jokiu0107’s putback kickstarted the dagger sequence where the Nuggets gained the necessary separation in the final minute.