Villain Jaden McDaniels says Wolves will win Game 6

DENVER — Jaden McDaniels has heard it all from Nuggets fans. He just says it doesn’t impact him — even if he did just have his worst game of the series.

Minutes after Denver’s 125-113 Game 5 win extended its season and sent the series back to Minnesota, McDaniels got to the podium inside Ball Arena and made a promise that Nuggets fans should note.

“We just ended up losing the day,” McDaniels said. “But we’re gonna win the next one.”

The next one is Thursday. Game 6. Target Center. Win-or-go-home for the Nuggets, close-it-out for the Timberwolves or come back to the Mile High to hear the boos.

The 6-foot-9 wing has tangled with Nuggets ballhandlers, jawed with Denver’s stars and carved out a reputation as one of the most physical perimeter defenders in basketball. Though McDaniels has now long been a foe of the Nuggets, he went full-blown villain after Game 2 when he called out the Nuggets for being bad defenders.

Ball Arena reminded him of that all night Monday on every touch.

McDaniels said he loved every second of it.

“It’s cool. I mean, I like it,” he said. “You see, I’m probably shaking my head all the time. They booing me. I’m laughing so they can’t get in my head. I already expected to come.”

The Nuggets need to hope the laughing stops Thursday.

Because for all of McDaniels’ bravado, the truth of Game 5 is that Denver got exactly what it needed and that the Wolves are still one win away from advancing. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Spencer Jones popped  as the Nuggets forced 25 Minnesota turnovers and led by as many as 27.

McDaniels finished with 13 points, four turnovers and five fouls — including two early that helped Denver build its early cushion. He played most of the night in foul trouble. He admitted afterward that the Wolves got sloppy.

“Really just silly turnovers. Some myself just throwing the ball to the team, just playing too fast,” McDaniels said. “It’s on me. I got to be better not fouling early in the game and just taking care of the ball.”

Ask him about the noise, though, and his tone changed.

“I hear the crowd. None of it affects me,” he said. “I love this environment. Everyone hates me. All the hates coming towards me. I love it. I feed into it. It just brings the best out of me.”

McDaniels was not at his best on Monday but if he is in front of much more friendly fans on Thursday, the Nuggets season and championship window could come to a close at the hands of their rival, led by a self-embracing villain.

Jaden McDaniels, who was a game-worst -25 says he heard the crowd but it didn’t effect him.

“Mentally, I didn’t really feel much besides the crowd, it's all fun to me. I don't care. I feed into it. We just got to get the job done next game, and then there's no more talking.” pic.twitter.com/aghZaL6oKt

— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) April 28, 2026

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