Donte Divincenzo did not need to dominate the spotlight for Minnesota’s comeback to matter. In a game that began with the Timberwolves buried under a 19-point deficit, his late scoring and energy fit into a larger story: a team that refused to let an early collapse decide its playoff fate. Minnesota’s 119-114 win over Denver on Monday night evened the opening-round series at 1-1 and turned a night that looked like a runaway into a warning that the matchup is far from settled.
A playoff swing that changed the series tone
The Timberwolves entered Ball Arena and immediately faced the kind of start that can tilt a postseason series. Denver opened on a 44-25 run and looked in control on both ends. Minnesota, however, kept working back into the game and erased the gap before halftime, helped by Anthony Edwards’ 30-point effort and a balanced attack that also included Julius Randle’s 24 points and nine rebounds. Donte Divincenzo finished with 16 points, and his role became more visible as the fourth quarter tightened.
That matters because the result did more than just create a split. It prevented Denver from taking command of a series that now heads to Minneapolis for Game 3. For Minnesota, the comeback also protected a chance to keep the series competitive after a night when a blowout loss would have shifted the burden heavily onto the Timberwolves.
How Donte Divincenzo fit into Minnesota’s finish
The decisive stretch came late. Jaden McDaniels scored on a dunk, then Donte Divincenzo followed with a fast-break layup after Nikola Jokić missed in the paint. That sequence helped Minnesota regain the lead. Moments later, after Denver still had a path to force overtime, Murray missed and Donte Divincenzo added one more easy dunk to close the door. In a game shaped by runs, those were the kinds of possessions that mattered most.
Donte Divincenzo’s box score does not tell the entire story, but it does show why his minutes were important. Minnesota needed every clean finish it could find after Denver’s size and shot-making kept the pressure on. The Timberwolves also benefited from the fact that Denver managed only one made field goal over nearly five minutes in the closing stretch before Aaron Gordon hit a 3-pointer with 78 seconds left. By then, Minnesota had already built the cushion it needed.
What the numbers say about the matchup
Anthony Edwards’ 30 points and 10 rebounds gave Minnesota its star engine. Jokić still posted 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, while Jamal Murray led Denver with 30 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. Yet both Nuggets stars went 2-of-12 from the field in the final 12 minutes, a critical detail in a one-possession game that could have gone the other way.
That late efficiency gap is where the series now feels different. Denver had a real chance to seize control, especially after the opening surge and Murray’s deep shot to end the first half tied at 64-64. Instead, Minnesota kept answering. Donte Divincenzo became part of that answer, not as the main headline, but as a finishing piece in a game defined by resilience and timing.
Why the comeback changes the road ahead
The Timberwolves have reached the Western Conference finals in back-to-back seasons, but they have never successfully climbed out of a 2-0 series hole. That history made Monday’s result more than a single win. It preserved the possibility of a deeper run and ensured the series remains level as it moves to Target Center on Thursday night. Edwards made that point plainly: “It’s 1-1, there’s no driver’s seat, ” he said.
For Denver, the loss is a missed chance to turn early dominance into a stronger series position. For Minnesota, the comeback offered evidence that the game can still shift even after a bad opening quarter. Donte Divincenzo’s 16 points may not define the series on their own, but in a game this tight, the details around him could shape what happens next. If the Timberwolves can carry this response home, how much more difficult does the matchup become for Denver?
