16-for-16 on free throws! Convinced Edwards! The Timberwolves' defense was simply brutal.

McDaniels stepped under Murray's foot, resulting in a Flagrant 1 foul.

Jokić's nose was hit and bleeding.

Randle's sneaky elbow in the paint knocked Gordon down flat.

Although the Nuggets secured a 116-105 home victory over the Timberwolves in playoff Game 1, they paid a significant price.

The Nuggets' two stars: Murray with 30 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and a +13 plus/minus; Jokić with a triple-double of 25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, and a +9 plus/minus.

On the Timberwolves side, Edwards shot 7-for-19, contributing 22 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks, along with 3 turnovers and 4 fouls.

It's worth noting that Murray went 16-for-16 on free throws in this game, shredding the Timberwolves' defensive line.

Edwards commented: "Chasing Murray everywhere is exhausting; he seems involved in every Nuggets play, with tactics revolving around him repeatedly."

Timberwolves coach Finch expressed dissatisfaction with Murray's 16 free throws, calling it perplexing.

Murray alone made 16 free throws, while the Timberwolves team shot 14-for-19 from the line.

When discussing the controversy over his free throws in this game, Murray stated he was fouled in every contact and couldn't understand why there was any dispute.

Murray has never been a player who relies on free throws to impact games. This regular season, he averaged 5.2 free throws per game, making 4.6, with the 5.2 attempts being his career high in the NBA. Previously, he typically averaged around 3 free throw attempts per game in regular seasons, and his postseason average, though slightly higher, was only around 4 attempts.

Returning to the topic, solely regarding Game 1, the Nuggets were clearly the better team, leading in almost every aspect—scoring, rebounds, assists, etc. However, as mentioned, the Timberwolves' defense was extremely "aggressive," raising concerns about potential injuries in the upcoming series...

As a team aiming for the championship, health is paramount. They must not only eliminate the Timberwolves but also face their likely Western Conference semifinals opponent, the Spurs led by Wembanyama, with a fully intact roster.