The night began with a celebration of Nikola Jokic’s third NBA MVP award, and the Denver Nuggets’ superstar center nearly ended the Minnesota Timberwolves season in Game 5.

The Mile High City crew won Game 5 112-97 to lead the second-round series 3-2. Jokic dominated the Nuggets’ offense, scoring 40 points and 13 assists on 15-of-22 shooting against the league’s top defense. Jokic was particularly critical of four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. Some of the Serbian’s best career moments have come against the Frenchman, and while he may not have ‘brother, I have 47’-ed him, Jokic offered his team two chances to defeat the upstart Wolves.

The game was a cage match in the first half, with no more than four points separating the teams until the Nuggets gained a seven-point advantage just before halftime. Mike Conley’s absence, owing to an Achilles injury, hindered the Wolves’ offense significantly. And Anthony Edwards couldn’t make up the difference, scoring only five points in the first half and 18 for the game.

Jamal Murray, too, had a quiet first half, scoring only five points. He barely finished with 16 points in the game, while Jokic took the spotlight. The MV3 received the most help from a hustling and athletic Aaron Gordon, who added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who made four three-pointers.

The Wolves took an 11-3 lead early in the second half, but Denver responded with an 11-2 run to restore their seven-point lead a few minutes later. Jokic scored or assisted on 10 of the Nuggets’ 13 third-quarter baskets. Denver’s hand really showed when they continuously attacked Gobert and rendered Naz Reid and Kyle Anderson useless. Nikola and the Nuggets’ incredible quarter put them ahead by 18 while the Wolves crumbled.

The Wolves must defend their home floor in a final game on Thursday to force a Game 7 on Sunday, in which they must win their third road playoff game in Denver. Can they do it? History is now on the Nuggets’ side.

The 2017 Boston Celtics were the only team in NBA history to lose the first two games of a series at home before winning four straight to win the series in Game 6. Teams that lost 2-0 at home and then won 3-2 in Game 5 are 3-0 in league history. Teams leading 3-2 are 199-35 overall, with an 85% chance of winning, up from 15% for Denver after falling behind in the first two games.