The Nuggets’ five-game road trip started with a letdown Saturday in Minnesota.

Here are three takeaways after the Timberwolves’ 133-104 win that gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead in the season series:

1. Maybe Michael Malone was right earlier this week when he said the Timberwolves and Nuggets aren’t quite rivals. His team certainly didn’t play like there was any added meaning in its second meeting with the team that knocked them out in the second round of the playoffs last season. Minnesota dominated across the board from points in the paint (72-58), fast-break point (16-8), bench points (42-25), points off turnovers (37-17) and second-chance points (20-18). Denver’s issues started at the top. Nikola Jokic had 20 points and 11 assists but committed more turnovers (7) than he had rebounds (3). Anthony Edwards, Minnesota’s best player, led the Timberwolves with 34 points on 23 shots and dished out nine assists against three turnovers. There are a couple of convenient excuses for the Nuggets, should they choose to use them. Denver hasn’t had consecutive days off since Jan. 5 and 6. The Nuggets have played two back-to-backs since and traveled Friday for the 1 p.m. local tipoff Saturday. The Nuggets can still earn the regular-season tiebreaker by sweeping the final two matchups of the regular season with both those games at Ball Arena.

2. While it certainly wasn’t Jokic’s afternoon, a little more help would’ve gone a long way to keeping Denver in the game. Michael Porter Jr. failed to grab a rebound in more than 30 minutes of playing time, meaning Denver’s starting frontcourt finished with three. Minnesota’s starting bigs – Rudy Gobert (14) and Julius Randle (7) – combined for 21, while Jaden McDaniels grabbed eight more. Russell Westbrook and DeAndre Jordan were Denver’s leading rebounders, grabbing six apiece. Gordon was Denver’s only consistent producer off the bench. January has been Julian Strawther’s best month of the season, but he didn’t have it Saturday, going 1 for 7 from the field for two points, matching his season-low. He missed all three attempts from beyond the arc and both of his late free throws. Gordon and Jordan (4) were Denver’s only reserves to score more than two points, while Minnesota had Naz Reid (13), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (10) and Rob Dillingham (10) score in double figures.

3. Jamal Murray provided at least some optimism. The Minnesota matchup has been a challenge for Murray with good reason. Jaden McDaniels and Alexander-Walker are a couple of long, talented defenders, and Edwards seems to enjoy the challenge of guarding Murray as well, but Denver’s starting point guard ended up being his team’s best scorer. He scored a team-high 25 points on 16 shots and did it around the hoop, from midrange and from distance where he made 3 of his 5 attempts from 3-point range. He also dished out five assists and grabbed a couple of rebounds in nearly 35 minutes of playing time. Minnesota might have saved some things in case there’s a third-straight postseason meeting, but that kind of performance Murray can feel good about moving into future matchups with Minnesota.

TIMBERWOLVES 133, NUGGETS 104

What happened: Minnesota led by nine after the first quarter, owned a 71-60 edge at halftime and extended the advantage to 18 points by the end of the third quarter. Both teams emptied the bench in the final five minutes, as Denver’s four-game win streak came to an end.

What went right: Aaron Gordon played 25 minutes, the most since he’s come back from a calf strain. He didn’t always look completely comfortable, but he gutted it out and with 13 points, three rebounds, two assists and a couple of steals.

What went wrong: Denver’s defense didn’t have it from the jump, as Minnesota scored 40 points in the first quarter. Minnesota blew the game open with a 38-point third quarter.

Highlight of the day: Peyton Watson made an impressive and instinctive pass for a second straight game. After diving onto the court and securing possession early in the second quarter, Watson didn’t have many good options, but he managed to roll a pass between Naz Reid’s legs. DeAndre Jordan, who benefitted from Watson’s behind-the-back bounce pass on Thursday, received the pass like an infielder taking a ground ball before going up and finishing.

Up next: The Nuggets are off to Chicago for Monday’s game against the Bulls.