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March 2026 Sports Events ft. T20 World Cup Final, IPL, AFC Women’s Asian Cup, All England Open, FIDE Candidates and more

March 2026 Sports Events ft. T20 World Cup Final, IPL, AFC Women’s Asian Cup, All England Open, FIDE Candidates and more

CRICKET

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup – India and Sri Lanka

March 1: Super 8s, Group 1 – Zimbabwe vs South Africa – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi – 3 p.m.

March 1: Super 8s, Group 1 – India vs West Indies – Eden Gardens, Kolkata – 7 p.m.

March 4: Semifinal 1 – South Africa vs New Zealand – Eden Gardens, Kolkata – 7 p.m.

March 5: Semifinal 2 – India vs England – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai – 7 p.m.

March 8: Final – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad – 7 p.m.

India Women tour of Australia

March 1: 3rd ODI – Bellerive Oval, Hobart – 9:20 a.m.

March 6-10: One-off Test – W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth – 10:50 a.m.

Pakistan tour of Bangladesh

March 11: 1st ODI – Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka – 1:45 p.m.

March 13: 2nd ODI – Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka – 1:45 p.m.

March 15: 3rd ODI – Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka – 1:45 p.m.

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka tour of UAE

March 13: 1st T20I – Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah – 8 p.m.

March 15: 2nd T20I – Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah – 8 p.m.

March 17: 3rd T20I – Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah – 8 p.m.

March 20: 1st ODI – Dubai International Stadium, Dubai – 11:30 a.m.

March 22: 2nd ODI – Dubai International Stadium, Dubai – 11:30 a.m.

March 25: 3rd ODI – Dubai International Stadium, Dubai – 11:30 a.m.

South Africa tour of New Zealand

March 15: 1st T20I – Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui – 7:15 a.m.

March 17: 2nd T20I – Seddon Park, Hamilton – 7:15 a.m.

March 20: 3rd T20I – Eden Park, Auckland – 7:15 a.m.

March 22: 4th T20I – Sky Stadium, Wellington – 7:15 a.m.

March 25: 5th T20I – Hagley Oval, Christchurch – 7:15 a.m.

Indian Premier League (IPL)

March 28 – May 31

HOCKEY

FIH Women’s World Cup Qualifiers – Hyderabad

March 8: Pool B – India vs Uruguay – 7:30 p.m.

March 9: Pool B – India vs Scotland – 7:30 p.m.

March 11: Pool B – India vs Wales – 7:30 p.m.

March 13: Semifinal 1 – 5:15 p.m.

March 13: Semifinal 2 – 7:30 p.m.

March 14: 3rd place play-off – 5:15 p.m.

March 14: Final – 7:30 p.m.

FOOTBALL

Indian Super League

February 14 – May 11

Indian Football League

February 27 – April 19

AFC Women’s Asian Cup – Australia

March 1-21

Premier League (select fixtures)

March 1: Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur – 7:30 p.m.

March 1: Manchester United vs Crystal Palace – 7:30 p.m.

March 1: Arsenal vs Chelsea – 10 p.m.

March 4: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Liverpool – 1:45 a.m.

March 5: Aston Villa vs Chelsea – 1 a.m.

March 5: Brighton vs Arsenal – 1 a.m.

March 5: Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest – 1 a.m.

March 5: Newcastle United vs Manchester United – 1:45 a.m.

March 6: Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace – 1:30 a.m.

March 14: Arsenal vs Everton – 11 p.m.

March 14: Chelsea vs Newcastle United – 11 p.m.

March 15: West Ham United vs Manchester United – 1:30 a.m.

March 15: Manchester United vs Aston Villa – 7:30 p.m.

March 15: Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur – 10 p.m.

March 21: Bournemouth vs Manchester United – 1:30 a.m.

March 21: Brighton vs Liverpool – 6 p.m.

March 21: Manchester City vs Crystal Palace – 8:30 p.m.

March 21: Everton vs Chelsea – 11 p.m.

March 22: Tottenham Hotspur vs Nottingham Forest – 7:45 p.m.

FA Cup – 5th Round (select fixtures)

March 7: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Liverpool – 1:30 a.m.

March 7: Mansfield vs Arsenal – 5:45 p.m.

March 7: Wrexham vs Chelsea – 11:15 p.m.

March 8: Newcastle United vs Manchester City – 1:30 a.m.

Carabao Cup

March 22: Final – Arsenal vs Manchester City – 10 p.m.

La Liga (select fixtures)

March 3: Real Madrid vs Getafe – 1:30 a.m.

March 7: Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid – 1:30 a.m.

March 8: Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona – 1:30 a.m.

March 15: Real Madrid vs Elche – 1:30 a.m.

March 15: Barcelona vs Sevilla – 8:45 p.m.

March 22: Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano – 6:30 p.m.

March 23: Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid – 1:30 a.m.

Copa del Rey

March 4: Semifinal, 2nd leg – Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid – 1:30 a.m.

March 5: Semifinal, 2nd leg – Real Sociedad vs Athletic Bilbao – 1:30 a.m.

Bundesliga (select fixtures)

March 7: Bayern Munich vs Borussia Moenchengladbach – 1 a.m.

March 14: Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich – 8 p.m.

March 21: Bayern Munich vs Union Berlin – 8 p.m.

Serie A (select fixtures)

March 1: Inter Milan vs Genoa – 1:15 a.m.

March 1: Cremonese vs AC Milan – 5 p.m.

March 7: Napoli vs Torino – 1:15 a.m.

March 9: AC Milan vs Inter Milan – 1:15 a.m.

March 14: Inter Milan vs Atalanta – 7:30 p.m.

March 14: Napoli vs Lecce – 10:30 p.m.

March 16: Lazio vs AC Milan – 1:15 a.m.

March 20: Cagliari vs Napoli – 11 p.m.

March 21: AC Milan vs Torino – 10:30 p.m.

March 23: Fiorentina vs Inter Milan – 1:15 a.m.

Coppa Italia

March 4: Semifinal, 1st leg – Como vs Inter Milan – 1:30 a.m.

March 5: Semifinal, 1st leg – Lazio vs Atalanta – 1:30 a.m.

Ligue 1 (select fixtures)

March 7: PSG vs Monaco – 1:15 a.m.

March 22: Nice vs PSG – 9:30 p.m.

UEFA Champions League – Round of 16

March 10: Galatasaray vs Liverpool – 11:15 p.m.

March 11: Atalanta vs Bayern Munich – 1:30 a.m.

March 11: Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur – 1:30 a.m.

March 11: Newcastle United vs Barcelona – 1:30 a.m.

March 11: Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal – 11:15 p.m.

March 12: Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting CP – 1:30 a.m.

March 12: PSG vs Chelsea – 1:30 a.m.

March 12: Real Madrid vs Manchester City – 1:30 a.m.

March 17: Sporting CP vs Bodo/Glimt – 11:15 p.m.

March 18: Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen – 1:30 a.m.

March 18: Chelsea vs PSG – 1:30 a.m.

March 18: Manchester City vs Real Madrid – 1:30 a.m.

March 18: Barcelona vs Newcastle United – 11:15 p.m.

March 19: Bayern Munich vs Atalanta – 1:30 a.m.

March 19: Liverpool vs Galatasaray – 1:30 a.m.

March 19: Tottenham Hotspur vs Atletico Madrid – 1:30 a.m.

World Cup Qualifiers (UEFA)

March 26: Playoff Semifinals – Turkiye vs Romania – 10:30 p.m.

March 27: Playoff Semifinals – Czechia vs Ireland – 1:15 a.m.

March 27: Playoff Semifinals – Denmark vs North Macedonia – 1:15 a.m.

March 27: Playoff Semifinals – Italy vs Northern Ireland – 1:15 a.m.

March 27: Playoff Semifinals – Poland vs Albania – 1:15 a.m.

March 27: Playoff Semifinals – Slovakia vs Kosovo – 1:15 a.m.

March 27: Playoff Semifinals- Ukraine vs Sweden – 1:15 a.m.

March 27: Playoff Semifinals – Wales vs Bosnia & Herzegovina – 1:15 a.m.

April 1: Playoff Final – Czechia/Ireland vs Denmark/North Macedonia – 12:15 a.m.

April 1: Playoff Final – Slovakia/Kosova vs Turkiye/Romania – 12:15 a.m.

April 1: Playoff Final – Ukraine/Sweden vs Poland/Albania – 12:15 a.m.

April 1: Playoff Final – Wales/Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Italy/Northern Ireland – 12:15 a.m.

World Cup Qualifiers (Inter-confederation)

March 27: Semifinal – New Caledonia vs Jamaica – 12:30 a.m.

March 27: Semifinal – Bolivia vs Suriname – 4:30 a.m.

March 31: Final – DR Congo vs New Caledonia/Jamaica – 11:30 p.m.

March 31: Final – Iraq vs Bolivia/Suriname – 11:30 p.m.

AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers (Round 6)

March 31: India vs Hong Kong – 3:30 p.m.

TENNIS

February 23 – March 1: ATP 250 Santiago

February 23 – March 1: ATP Pune Challenger (CH 75)

February 23 – March 1: WTA 500 Merida

February 23 – March 1: WTA 250 Austin

March 4-15: Indian Wells Masters (ATP & WTA 1000)

March 17-29: Miami Open (WTA 1000)

March 18-29: Miami Open (ATP 1000)

March 30 – April 5: Charleston Open (WTA 500)

March 30 – April 5: ATP 250 Houston

March 30 – April 5: ATP 250 Marrakech

March 30 – April 5: ATP 500 Bucharest

March 30 – April 5: WTA 250 Bogota

SHOOTING

March 25 – April 3: ISSF World Cup Shotgun – Tangier, Morocco

BADMINTON

February 24 – March 1: German Open (BWF World Tour Super 300) – Muelheim an der Ruhr, Germany

March 3-8: All England Open (BWF World Tour Super 1000) – Birmingham, England

March 10-15: Swiss Open (BWF World Tour Super 300) – Basel, Switzerland

March 10-15: China Masters (BWF Tour Super 100) – Ruichang, China

March 17-22: Orleans Masters (BWF World Tour Super 300) – Orleans, France

ATHLETICS

March 7-8: 5th Indian Open Throws Competition – Patiala

March 14-15: 5th Indian Open Jumps Competition – ABG Foundation, Bengaluru

March 15: Asian Race Walking Championships – Nomi, Japan

March 20-22: World Athletics Indoor Championships – Torun, Poland

March 21: 7th Indian Open 400m Meet (All categories) – LNCPE, Trivandrum

March 24-25: 1st National Indoor Athletics Championships – Bhubaneswar

March 28: 3rd National Open Relay Competitions – Chandigarh

CHESS

February 24 – March 6: Prague Masters

February 25 – March 1: Saint Louis Masters

March 28 – April 16: FIDE Candidates – Paphos, Cyprus

FORMULA ONE

March 6-8: Australian Grand Prix – Melbourne

March 13-15: Chinese Grand Prix – Shanghai

March 27-29: Japanese Grand Prix – Suzuka

MOTOGP

February 27-March 1: Thailand Grand Prix – Buriram

March 20-22: Brazilian Grand Prix – Goiânia

March 27-29: US Grand Prix – Austin

BOXING

March 28 – April 11: Asian Boxing Championships – Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

BASKETBALL

October 21, 2025 – April 12, 2026: NBA Regular Season

TABLE TENNIS

March 10-15: WTT Champions Chongqing

March 14-21: 87th Senior National & Inter-State Table Tennis Championships – Indore, Madhya Pradesh

March 24-29: WTT Contender Tunis

March 30 – April 5: ITTF Men’s & Women’s World Cups – Macao, China

SQUASH

March 18-22: JSW Indian Open – Mumbai

CYCLING

March 6-8: UCI Track World Cup – Perth, Australia

March 25-31: Asian Track Cycling Championships – Tagaytay, Philippines

Note: All timings are in IST (Indian Standard Time).

Published on Mar 02, 2026

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#March #Sports #Events #T20 #World #Cup #Final #IPL #AFC #Womens #Asian #Cup #England #Open #FIDE #Candidates

Deadspin | Tarik Skubal fans 10 in 6 innings as Tigers take down Red Sox  Apr 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA;  Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images   Tarik Skubal pitched six dominant innings and Kerry Carpenter highlighted his multi-hit game with a home run, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.  Skubal (3-2) struck out 10, twice fanning the side, while allowing just one run on four hits en route to the win.  Carpenter (2-for-3, two RBI) and Kevin McGonigle (2-for-5, RBI, run) led the offense for Detroit, which broke a nine-game road losing streak.  Tyler Holton and Kenley Jansen teamed up in relief as Boston was limited to five hits. Jansen notched his fifth save.  Brayan Bello (1-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in four innings. He fanned four, while throwing 84 pitches.  The Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning while forcing Bello to throw 35 pitches. After McGonigle lined a leadoff single to right, another base knock by Colt Keith and a walk to Riley Greene loaded the bases.  Bello fanned Spencer Torkelson, but another free pass to Carpenter forced home Detroit’s opening run.   Bello retired the next eight men he faced, including a strikeout to begin the fourth, before the visitors marked the scoreboard again on Carpenter’s towering homer into the right-center field bullpen. After two more baserunners continued the line, Jake Rogers’ sacrifice fly and another McGonigle single extended the Detroit lead.  The four runs proved to be enough support for Skubal, who retired the Red Sox in order the first time through the lineup and allowed just one baserunner before Boston got on the board in the fifth.  In the hosts’ run-scoring inning, a Wilyer Abreu single and Ceddanne Rafaela double set the table in the inning, but Connor Wong’s double play ball plating a run was all of the offense Skubal would allow.  Back-to-back hits by Roman Anthony and Andruw Monestario to begin the sixth gave Boston an opportunity to break into its deficit further, but Skubal escaped trouble with two strikeouts of the next three batters.  Skubal fanned the side in the second and fourth innings. Boston’s Willson Contreras and Trevor Story each struck out three times in the game.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Tarik #Skubal #fans #innings #Tigers #Red #SoxApr 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Tarik Skubal pitched six dominant innings and Kerry Carpenter highlighted his multi-hit game with a home run, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.

Skubal (3-2) struck out 10, twice fanning the side, while allowing just one run on four hits en route to the win.

Carpenter (2-for-3, two RBI) and Kevin McGonigle (2-for-5, RBI, run) led the offense for Detroit, which broke a nine-game road losing streak.

Tyler Holton and Kenley Jansen teamed up in relief as Boston was limited to five hits. Jansen notched his fifth save.

Brayan Bello (1-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in four innings. He fanned four, while throwing 84 pitches.

The Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning while forcing Bello to throw 35 pitches. After McGonigle lined a leadoff single to right, another base knock by Colt Keith and a walk to Riley Greene loaded the bases.


Bello fanned Spencer Torkelson, but another free pass to Carpenter forced home Detroit’s opening run.

Bello retired the next eight men he faced, including a strikeout to begin the fourth, before the visitors marked the scoreboard again on Carpenter’s towering homer into the right-center field bullpen. After two more baserunners continued the line, Jake Rogers’ sacrifice fly and another McGonigle single extended the Detroit lead.

The four runs proved to be enough support for Skubal, who retired the Red Sox in order the first time through the lineup and allowed just one baserunner before Boston got on the board in the fifth.

In the hosts’ run-scoring inning, a Wilyer Abreu single and Ceddanne Rafaela double set the table in the inning, but Connor Wong’s double play ball plating a run was all of the offense Skubal would allow.

Back-to-back hits by Roman Anthony and Andruw Monestario to begin the sixth gave Boston an opportunity to break into its deficit further, but Skubal escaped trouble with two strikeouts of the next three batters.

Skubal fanned the side in the second and fourth innings. Boston’s Willson Contreras and Trevor Story each struck out three times in the game.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Tarik #Skubal #fans #innings #Tigers #Red #Sox">Deadspin | Tarik Skubal fans 10 in 6 innings as Tigers take down Red Sox  Apr 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA;  Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images   Tarik Skubal pitched six dominant innings and Kerry Carpenter highlighted his multi-hit game with a home run, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.  Skubal (3-2) struck out 10, twice fanning the side, while allowing just one run on four hits en route to the win.  Carpenter (2-for-3, two RBI) and Kevin McGonigle (2-for-5, RBI, run) led the offense for Detroit, which broke a nine-game road losing streak.  Tyler Holton and Kenley Jansen teamed up in relief as Boston was limited to five hits. Jansen notched his fifth save.  Brayan Bello (1-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in four innings. He fanned four, while throwing 84 pitches.  The Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning while forcing Bello to throw 35 pitches. After McGonigle lined a leadoff single to right, another base knock by Colt Keith and a walk to Riley Greene loaded the bases.  Bello fanned Spencer Torkelson, but another free pass to Carpenter forced home Detroit’s opening run.   Bello retired the next eight men he faced, including a strikeout to begin the fourth, before the visitors marked the scoreboard again on Carpenter’s towering homer into the right-center field bullpen. After two more baserunners continued the line, Jake Rogers’ sacrifice fly and another McGonigle single extended the Detroit lead.  The four runs proved to be enough support for Skubal, who retired the Red Sox in order the first time through the lineup and allowed just one baserunner before Boston got on the board in the fifth.  In the hosts’ run-scoring inning, a Wilyer Abreu single and Ceddanne Rafaela double set the table in the inning, but Connor Wong’s double play ball plating a run was all of the offense Skubal would allow.  Back-to-back hits by Roman Anthony and Andruw Monestario to begin the sixth gave Boston an opportunity to break into its deficit further, but Skubal escaped trouble with two strikeouts of the next three batters.  Skubal fanned the side in the second and fourth innings. Boston’s Willson Contreras and Trevor Story each struck out three times in the game.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Tarik #Skubal #fans #innings #Tigers #Red #Sox

Deadspin | Nikola Jokic posts triple-double as Nuggets outlast Wolves in Game 1   Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) walks off the court after a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images   Nikola Jokic had 25 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, Jamal Murray scored a game-high 30 points and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105 on Saturday to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.  Murray was perfect from the line, hitting a career-high 16 free throws, while Aaron Gordon finished with 17 points and Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun pitched in with 12 points each for Denver.  The Nuggets fell behind by 12 in the second quarter, but they forged a halftime tie and never trailed after the break.  “First game of the playoffs, you have all of this adrenaline, nerves, excitement,” said Murray, who scored just three points in the game’s first 14 minutes. “Just come out, be relaxed, do what I do and be aggressive.  “It’s not a feel-out game. To me, it’s the most important game of the series. It sets the tone and this is why you work for home-court advantage, to win this game right here.”  Game 2 is Monday night in Denver.  Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 22 points while Rudy Gobert produced 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle scored 16 apiece, Ayo Dosunmu posted 14 and Donte DiVincenzo added 12.  Edwards, who missed 11 of Minnesota’s final 15 regular-season games due to right knee issues, was listed as questionable prior to the game. He wound up playing a team-high 38 minutes and contributing nine rebounds along with a team-high seven assists and three blocks, but he shot 7 of 19 from the field.  “He looked normal for what he’s been through,” said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. “I thought he got tired in the third, so I pulled him a little bit earlier. He had some good looks throughout the game; touch maybe wasn’t there. It wasn’t the ‘Ant’ we’re used to seeing, but it’s pretty much as expected considering where he is trying to find his rhythm.”  The Timberwolves trailed by 12 after three quarters, but they rallied to start the fourth. Dosunmu and Edwards hit 3-pointers, then Gobert made a driving layup and a putback during a 12-4 run that cut the deficit to 97-95.   But Jokic answered with a three-point play and a tip-in to extend the lead to seven with 5:45 left.  Following a Minnesota timeout, Edwards missed a 19-footer and Braun made two free throws. After a Minnesota turnover, Jokic completed his 22nd playoff triple-double by feeding Bruce Brown for a fast-break dunk to make it 106-97 with 4:10 to go.  Edwards missed a long 3-point attempt that would have made it a 2-point game with 2:25 remaining. Gordon hit a follow dunk and Gobert’s offensive goaltending miscue kept it at 108-101 with 1:39 left.  The Timberwolves led by as many as 12 in the first half but a strong second quarter by the Nuggets sent it into intermission 62-62.  Denver took advantage of a Timberwolves’ scoring drought of 4:22 to open up a big third-quarter lead. Gordon scored half of the points in a 14-0 run, capping it with a follow dunk to make it 82-68. McDaniels hit a jumper in the lane to end the run but also picked up a technical foul.  Murray hit the free throw and then a turnaround to make it 85-70. Edwards came back into the game with four points and fed Mike Conley for a corner 3-pointer, but Jokic’s floater gave the Nuggets a 91-79 lead heading into the fourth.  The Timberwolves outshot the Nuggets from the floor and beyond the arc, but Denver rode Murray’s free-throw prowess to outscore Minnesota 30-14 from the line. The Nuggets made 30-of-33 free throws (90.9%).  “(Murray) made a lot of free throws because he got fouled,” Adelman said. “A lot.”  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Nikola #Jokic #posts #tripledouble #Nuggets #outlast #Wolves #GameApr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) walks off the court after a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Nikola Jokic had 25 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, Jamal Murray scored a game-high 30 points and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105 on Saturday to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Murray was perfect from the line, hitting a career-high 16 free throws, while Aaron Gordon finished with 17 points and Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun pitched in with 12 points each for Denver.

The Nuggets fell behind by 12 in the second quarter, but they forged a halftime tie and never trailed after the break.

“First game of the playoffs, you have all of this adrenaline, nerves, excitement,” said Murray, who scored just three points in the game’s first 14 minutes. “Just come out, be relaxed, do what I do and be aggressive.

“It’s not a feel-out game. To me, it’s the most important game of the series. It sets the tone and this is why you work for home-court advantage, to win this game right here.”

Game 2 is Monday night in Denver.

Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 22 points while Rudy Gobert produced 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle scored 16 apiece, Ayo Dosunmu posted 14 and Donte DiVincenzo added 12.

Edwards, who missed 11 of Minnesota’s final 15 regular-season games due to right knee issues, was listed as questionable prior to the game. He wound up playing a team-high 38 minutes and contributing nine rebounds along with a team-high seven assists and three blocks, but he shot 7 of 19 from the field.

“He looked normal for what he’s been through,” said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. “I thought he got tired in the third, so I pulled him a little bit earlier. He had some good looks throughout the game; touch maybe wasn’t there. It wasn’t the ‘Ant’ we’re used to seeing, but it’s pretty much as expected considering where he is trying to find his rhythm.”


The Timberwolves trailed by 12 after three quarters, but they rallied to start the fourth. Dosunmu and Edwards hit 3-pointers, then Gobert made a driving layup and a putback during a 12-4 run that cut the deficit to 97-95.

But Jokic answered with a three-point play and a tip-in to extend the lead to seven with 5:45 left.

Following a Minnesota timeout, Edwards missed a 19-footer and Braun made two free throws. After a Minnesota turnover, Jokic completed his 22nd playoff triple-double by feeding Bruce Brown for a fast-break dunk to make it 106-97 with 4:10 to go.

Edwards missed a long 3-point attempt that would have made it a 2-point game with 2:25 remaining. Gordon hit a follow dunk and Gobert’s offensive goaltending miscue kept it at 108-101 with 1:39 left.

The Timberwolves led by as many as 12 in the first half but a strong second quarter by the Nuggets sent it into intermission 62-62.

Denver took advantage of a Timberwolves’ scoring drought of 4:22 to open up a big third-quarter lead. Gordon scored half of the points in a 14-0 run, capping it with a follow dunk to make it 82-68. McDaniels hit a jumper in the lane to end the run but also picked up a technical foul.

Murray hit the free throw and then a turnaround to make it 85-70. Edwards came back into the game with four points and fed Mike Conley for a corner 3-pointer, but Jokic’s floater gave the Nuggets a 91-79 lead heading into the fourth.

The Timberwolves outshot the Nuggets from the floor and beyond the arc, but Denver rode Murray’s free-throw prowess to outscore Minnesota 30-14 from the line. The Nuggets made 30-of-33 free throws (90.9%).

“(Murray) made a lot of free throws because he got fouled,” Adelman said. “A lot.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Nikola #Jokic #posts #tripledouble #Nuggets #outlast #Wolves #Game">Deadspin | Nikola Jokic posts triple-double as Nuggets outlast Wolves in Game 1   Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) walks off the court after a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images   Nikola Jokic had 25 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, Jamal Murray scored a game-high 30 points and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105 on Saturday to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.  Murray was perfect from the line, hitting a career-high 16 free throws, while Aaron Gordon finished with 17 points and Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun pitched in with 12 points each for Denver.  The Nuggets fell behind by 12 in the second quarter, but they forged a halftime tie and never trailed after the break.  “First game of the playoffs, you have all of this adrenaline, nerves, excitement,” said Murray, who scored just three points in the game’s first 14 minutes. “Just come out, be relaxed, do what I do and be aggressive.  “It’s not a feel-out game. To me, it’s the most important game of the series. It sets the tone and this is why you work for home-court advantage, to win this game right here.”  Game 2 is Monday night in Denver.  Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 22 points while Rudy Gobert produced 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jaden McDaniels and Julius Randle scored 16 apiece, Ayo Dosunmu posted 14 and Donte DiVincenzo added 12.  Edwards, who missed 11 of Minnesota’s final 15 regular-season games due to right knee issues, was listed as questionable prior to the game. He wound up playing a team-high 38 minutes and contributing nine rebounds along with a team-high seven assists and three blocks, but he shot 7 of 19 from the field.  “He looked normal for what he’s been through,” said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. “I thought he got tired in the third, so I pulled him a little bit earlier. He had some good looks throughout the game; touch maybe wasn’t there. It wasn’t the ‘Ant’ we’re used to seeing, but it’s pretty much as expected considering where he is trying to find his rhythm.”  The Timberwolves trailed by 12 after three quarters, but they rallied to start the fourth. Dosunmu and Edwards hit 3-pointers, then Gobert made a driving layup and a putback during a 12-4 run that cut the deficit to 97-95.   But Jokic answered with a three-point play and a tip-in to extend the lead to seven with 5:45 left.  Following a Minnesota timeout, Edwards missed a 19-footer and Braun made two free throws. After a Minnesota turnover, Jokic completed his 22nd playoff triple-double by feeding Bruce Brown for a fast-break dunk to make it 106-97 with 4:10 to go.  Edwards missed a long 3-point attempt that would have made it a 2-point game with 2:25 remaining. Gordon hit a follow dunk and Gobert’s offensive goaltending miscue kept it at 108-101 with 1:39 left.  The Timberwolves led by as many as 12 in the first half but a strong second quarter by the Nuggets sent it into intermission 62-62.  Denver took advantage of a Timberwolves’ scoring drought of 4:22 to open up a big third-quarter lead. Gordon scored half of the points in a 14-0 run, capping it with a follow dunk to make it 82-68. McDaniels hit a jumper in the lane to end the run but also picked up a technical foul.  Murray hit the free throw and then a turnaround to make it 85-70. Edwards came back into the game with four points and fed Mike Conley for a corner 3-pointer, but Jokic’s floater gave the Nuggets a 91-79 lead heading into the fourth.  The Timberwolves outshot the Nuggets from the floor and beyond the arc, but Denver rode Murray’s free-throw prowess to outscore Minnesota 30-14 from the line. The Nuggets made 30-of-33 free throws (90.9%).  “(Murray) made a lot of free throws because he got fouled,” Adelman said. “A lot.”  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Nikola #Jokic #posts #tripledouble #Nuggets #outlast #Wolves #Game

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