Anthony Edwards scores 43, Naz Reid has late surge to hand ...

Foul trouble is rarely a blessing in disguise.

It might’ve helped the Timberwolves steal a road game in the first chapter of what’s sure to be a bitterly competitive series.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid played prolonged fourth-quarter minutes with Karl-Anthony Towns in foul trouble, and his 10-point burst in the last six minutes handed the Nuggets a 106-99 Game 1 loss on Saturday night.

This is the first time in the last two postseasons that Denver has trailed a series. Game 2 is Monday at Ball Arena.

“It was a very close game. It was a good game,” Michael Porter Jr. said. “We can definitely play better.”

When Jamal Murray gave Denver the lead with a 4-point play with 8:35 remaining, Towns parked himself on the bench with his fifth foul. Reid, a more than capable backup center, stayed on the floor alongside Rudy Gobert as the series opener hurtled toward clutch time.

The backup five took over against the best starting five in the West.

Reid banked a fortuitous 3-pointer to break an 84-all tie. On the next possession, he slammed home an offensive rebound. As the Timberwolves pulled away, he added a finger-roll and another 3. He scored all 16 of his points after halftime.

“Second half, I just felt not nearly enough discipline and physicality, and that they were able to get whatever they wanted,” coach Michael Malone said.

Porter continued to be dependable for Denver with an efficient 20. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 32 points but turned the ball over seven times.

Anthony Edwards was the game’s only true, consistent force. He willed his way to 43 points on 17-for-29 shooting in a defensive rock fight, even as the Nuggets double-teamed him.

“One thing that makes us successful is that when teams double Joker, we’ve got capable guys that can make shots,” Porter said. “Similar with them. If you double Ant, you may be swinging the ball to KAT or Mike Conley or Jaden McDaniels. All capable guys. It’s definitely a balance, and it’s something we’ve gotta look at on film.”

The familiarity between these division foes, and between the individual characters dotting the matchup from the sidelines to front offices, prompted questions throughout the week about tactical navigation. Would the Nuggets and Timberwolves introduce new wrinkles and adjustments that they had saved just for this playoff occasion? Or would it be a more straightforward series strategically, with no secrets left to reveal?

“With the extra week of preparation, I guess both teams are able to kind of think a little deeper,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said before tip. “But I would imagine both teams are just gonna kind of be themselves and let it rip.”

Not exactly. Ninety minutes later, Minnesota started the series with its best wing defender, Jaden McDaniels, guarding Porter instead of the calf-hampered Murray. “I’m sure he’ll start off on Jamal,” Porter had predicted the day before. “But I feel comfortable with anyone guarding me. The way I play, I don’t feel like (McDaniels) will be able to block my shot.”

Murray was hounded by Edwards during an intimidating 18-4 start. But Porter was right about one thing, even if he was wrong about the matchup: It’s near impossible to disrupt his shooting rhythm with any amount of length or tenacity. He sank a difficult 3-pointer off a dribble handoff from Jokic to help ignite a 13-0 Nuggets answer.

By then, Towns had checked out, leaving the Timberwolves in their secondary coverage of Jokic: an old-school post showdown with Gobert, no longer roaming in help. Jokic accepted the invite to bang away at his longtime adversary. He settled into the game.

Even more notably, Denver’s unusual substitution pattern paid off early. Reggie Jackson and Justin Holiday were the only bench players to check in during the first quarter, with Malone saving Christian Braun and Peyton Watson for later. (Watson didn’t enter until after Jokic’s rest minutes, ensuring that Porter played the four with Malone’s second unit.) In a key stretch, Jackson dished a behind-the-back pass, picked Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s pocket for a fast-break lob and scored five points.

The Nuggets escaped the first quarter with a 25-23 lead. They led 44-40 at half despite Jokic and Murray combining to shoot 5 for 19. Murray was scoreless.

“I wasn’t worried about the start,” Malone said. “It was 18-4. Jamal Murray didn’t practice all week. Couldn’t make a shot. I’m more worried about our second half defense.”

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