The Minnesota Timberwolves authored a stunning second-half comeback to beat the Denver Nuggets 98-90, knocking the defending champions out of the NBA playoffs. This victory marks the sixth consecutive season that the defending champions have failed to make it out of the second round.
A Tale of Two Halves
At halftime of their Game 7 contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Nuggets seemed poised for success. Guard Jamal Murray had 24 points, and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic was more than halfway to a triple-double with 13 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves faced trouble. Rising star Anthony Edwards had just three points, and both Edwards and Mike Conley struggled offensively. Minnesota trailed by 20 points early in the third quarter.
The Comeback
But the Timberwolves had other plans. They scrubbed clean the deficit, and an inspired and stunning turnaround ensued. Minnesota upended the defending champion Denver Nuggets, ensuring that the NBA will have a new champion this season.
- Anthony Edwards found enough scoring, including a corner 3-pointer that gave the Timberwolves a 92-82 lead with 3:05 left in the fourth. He finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
- Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 23 points and 12 rebounds.
- Jaden McDaniels had 23 points, six rebounds, and two steals.
- Rudy Gobert delivered 13 points and nine rebounds, and Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid had 11 points.
Defensive Dominance
Minnesota, which owned the league’s best regular-season defense, increased its defensive presence in the second half, holding the Nuggets to just 37 points in the final two quarters. The Timberwolves outscored Denver 60-32 after falling behind 58-38 in the third.
Making History
The Timberwolves are just the third team to overcome a deficit of more than 11 points on the road in a Game 7 and win. By the time four quarters had expired, the finish had everyone gasping for air in the Mile High City. The journey is important, but in the NBA playoffs, the destination matters most. The Timberwolves are in the conference finals for the first time since 2004 and will play the Dallas Mavericks, beginning with Game 1 Wednesday in Minneapolis. It will be another series featuring young stars with Edwards and Mavs All-NBA guard Luka Doncic.
