Nikola Jokic hits triple double as Nuggets eliminate Timberwolves

UP FOR GRABS: Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves fights for a lose ball against Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter during Round 1 Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. Pic: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Michael Malone surveyed the scene Tuesday night and wondered where everyone was — not just Denver’s fans, but the Nuggets themselves.

“Our team was kind of like the crowd tonight — we were late arriving,” Malone said after Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray helped the top-seeded Nuggets overcame a slow start to eliminate the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-109 in Game 5 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series.