Game 1: Murray's Free Throw Parade, Rudy Answers, and the Reason to Still Believe (DEN 116, MIN 105)

Game 1: Murray's Free Throw Parade, Rudy Answers, and the Reason to Still Believe (DEN 116, MIN 105)

Game 1 is in the books and Tom and Josh are calling an audible for the playoffs: 15 to 20 minute drops after every game. Denver takes the opener 116-105, and there's a lot to unpack. First, the officiating. Jamal Murray shot 16 for 16 from the line. The Wolves as a team shot 19. We get into the uneven whistle, the Jaden flagrant, the Jokic-McDaniels scrum, and why Murray's free throw rate was way above his season norm. Then the basketball. Rudy Gobert's best playoff game since the Lakers closeout, a finishing package we haven't seen, and hands active on Jokic. Ant looked rusty and maybe not 100 percent on the knee. Julius had a rough night on both ends. Naz is still not himself with the shoulder. Jaden brought a first quarter. DDV and Ayo hustled. Plus, the lineup that broke the second quarter. Why Finch rolled out Conley, Slo Mo, Ayo, Bones, and Naz together with a 10 point lead is beyond us. Pace dropped to 13 percent transition (season average 18), and Denver erased the cushion. Game 2 is Monday, 9:30 Central. We think the Wolves steal it.