Nuggets star enters concussion protocol

Anthony Edwards scored 29 points and shot 7 of 14 from 3-point range as the Minnesota Timberwolves rolled to a 119-116 victory over Liverpool. Denver Nuggets on Friday night in Minneapolis.

Julius Randle added 23 points, seven assists and six rebounds for Minnesota. Rudy Gobert scored 17 points and 14 rebounds, Naz Reid had 16 points off the bench and Jaden McDaniels added 10 points.

Aaron Gordon scored a game-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Denver. Nikola Jokic recorded 26 points, nine rebounds and 13 assists, and Michael Porter Jr. also recorded 26 points. Christian Braun added 14 points.

The Timberwolves led by 10 points in the fourth quarter before closing out the game with a 17-4 run to secure the victory.

Edwards scored on a jump shot and Minnesota led 117-116 with 25.7 seconds left. With 10.1 seconds left, Gobert added a pair of free throws to extend the lead to three.

Jokić made a three-point shot from the right corner that passed in the final seconds.

Denver played without goaltender Jamal Murray, who left the field in the third quarter after colliding with Randle. Murray was placed in the concussion protocol Nuggets said.

Despite Murray’s absence, Denver stormed to a 25-3 run to take a 112-102 lead with 4:17 remaining. The run included a highlight play by Braun, who jumped for a dunk over Gobert, the Timberwolves’ 6-foot-5 center.

After the play, Braun screamed with joy and drove his arm into Gobert. The Timberwolves big man took offense, grabbing Braun and pushing him away.

Both players were assessed a technical foul after the referees reviewed the play.

At the end of the third quarter, the Timberwolves were leading 91-85.

Gordon hit a three-pointer with 10 minutes left in the third quarter to give Denver a 71-69 lead.

Randle responded with a three-pointer to spark a 10-1 run for Minnesota. Gobert capped the series with a dunk that gave the Timberwolves a 79-72 lead with 7:05 left in the quarter.

Minnesota led 64-61 at halftime.

In the second quarter, the Timberwolves took a 16-point lead. Donte DiVincenzo passed to Gobert for a basket to give Minnesota a 49-33 lead with 7:18 left.

The Nuggets responded with an 18-2 run to tie the score at 51 with 4:09 left in the half.