Home-court advantage is heading back to Minnesota with the Timberwolves.

Here are three takeaways from Denver’s 119-114 loss on Monday at Ball Arena:

1. The Timberwolves have a titanium jaw. Just when it looked like the Nuggets landed a knockout punch and would cruise to a convincing win, the Timberwolves showed their teeth with a 27-point swing that spanned most of the second quarter. There’s too much history between these two teams for anything to be easy for either team. Minnesota’s going to be out for blood Thursday and Saturday at Target Center. The Nuggets will show what they’re made of in Minnesota.

2. Forget the road team winning, an NBA series doesn’t start until the coaches start lobbying. That happened prior to Monday’s late tipoff. “Maybe we ought to start flopping, too,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said at his pregame availability. Nuggets coach David Adelman, coaching in his second postseason, knows the game coaches play. “It’s the playoffs. Everybody politics after games,” he said. Finch took exception to the 16 free throws Jamal Murray took in Game 1. Adelman countered that a few of those free throws were the result of technical, flagrant and off-ball fouls. Denver finished with a 33-19 advantage in free throws. “It could happen the other way tonight. It’s just the way it is,” Adelman said, noting three different referees were set to officiate Game 2. Denver completed three four-point plays in the first quarter. In what was an inconsistently officiated game, both teams finished with 30 free throws. Denver made 23 to Minnesota’s 19.

3. Rudy Gobert picking up his third foul a few minutes into the second quarter made Denver’s life a lot harder on the defensive end. With more shooting on the court, Minnesota scored 31 points in the final nine minutes of the second quarter. Minnesota made six consecutive 3-pointers in the second and earned nine free throws. Minnesota’s defense held up in a stretch that changed the complexion of the game. Gobert picked up his fourth foul five minutes into the third quarter. Denver led by one when Minnesota’s defensive anchor headed to the bench.