New development:The Anthony Edwards Takeover Denver Nuggets prepares their mind

The Timberwolves’ ascendant star flipped the script on Denver in Game 1; can the Nuggets find a way to slow him down? Plus, thoughts on the Cavaliers’ Game 7 survival, the Knicks’ depth issues, and the Luka vs. SGA showdown in Mavericks-Thunder.

Trailing by five points late in the fourth quarter on Saturday, needing a bucket as they attempted to win Game 1 of their second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Denver Nuggets turned to their favorite play

Aaron Gordon made an entry pass to Nikola Jokic, then pivoted and set a pick for Jamal Murray before rolling to the rim. Murray rubbed off Gordon’s screen to collect a handoff from Jokic and then, when the Timberwolves blitzed, passed back to Jokic for a two-on-one opportunity at the rim. When Jokic catches the ball in this position, with this much space in front of him, nobody ever stops him: Either the two-time MVP will sink a floater or toss an alley-oop to Gordon

And yet, on this crucial crunch-time play, the Timberwolves did stop him. Soon-to-be four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert feigned toward Jokic, induced the pass, and rocked back to swat it away. Minnesota stole the ball, clinched a Game 1 victory on the road, and welcomed the second round of the playoffs with open, searching arms.

The reigning champs are on the ropes, but that’s not the only key NBA storyline coming out of the weekend. Here is one thought on each second-round series as the postseason rolls on toward its climax.

Anthony Edwards scored 43 points in Denver on Saturday—his third straight outing of 36 or more, as the 22-year-old star continues his rapid ascension. Edwards wasn’t alone on Saturday, as the other Wolves in his pack got going after Edwards scored 25 of the team’s 40 first-half points. In the second half, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mike Conley, and Naz Reid combined to score 41 points on 17-for-19 (!) shooting.