Timberwolves Force Game 7 With Huge Win Over Nuggets
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets, 115-70, at Target Center in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Thursday. The series is now tied 3-3.
The Timberwolves needed to deliver one of their best performances of the postseason if they wanted to keep their playoff run alive after three straight losses to the Nuggets. Even though Denver got off to an impressive start and built a 9-2 lead early on, but the Timberwolves caught fire in the first quarter with a 20-0 run that would end up setting the tone of the contest. Minnesota led by 17 points at the end of the first quarter, and the Timberwolves would push that advantage even further following a 28-26 score in the second quarter. The Nuggets tried to fight back in the second half, but the deficit was too big to overcome, and they simply gave up in the fourth quarter. Denver scored just nine points in the final 12 minutes, as opposed to Minnesota’s 29, and the Timberwolves cruised to a huge victory that kept their season alive for, at least, one more game. This win will go down in history, as the Timberwolves completed the second-largest playoff win when facing elimination in NBA history. Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday at Ball Arena, home of the Nuggets.
Anthony Edwards led the way for the Timberwolves with 27 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Jaden McDaniels had 21 points and four boards. Karl-Anthony Towns notched 10 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Rudy Gobert recorded eight points and 14 rebounds. Mike Conley scored 13 points and added five assists in his return. Naz Reid chipped in with 10 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. The Timberwolves shot 46.5 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from deep.
Nikola Jokic had 22 points and nine rebounds for the Nuggets. Aaron Gordon notched 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Jamal Murray had 10 points and five assists, but he shot a woeful 4-for-18 from the field, including 2-for-7 from three-point range. No other Denver player scored in double digits. The Nuggets shot 30.2 percent from the field and 19.4 percent from three-point range.
The Timberwolves needed to deliver one of their best performances of the postseason if they wanted to keep their playoff run alive after three straight losses to the Nuggets. Even though Denver got off to an impressive start and built a 9-2 lead early on, but the Timberwolves caught fire in the first quarter with a 20-0 run that would end up setting the tone of the contest. Minnesota led by 17 points at the end of the first quarter, and the Timberwolves would push that advantage even further following a 28-26 score in the second quarter. The Nuggets tried to fight back in the second half, but the deficit was too big to overcome, and they simply gave up in the fourth quarter. Denver scored just nine points in the final 12 minutes, as opposed to Minnesota’s 29, and the Timberwolves cruised to a huge victory that kept their season alive for, at least, one more game. This win will go down in history, as the Timberwolves completed the second-largest playoff win when facing elimination in NBA history. Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday at Ball Arena, home of the Nuggets.
Anthony Edwards led the way for the Timberwolves with 27 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Jaden McDaniels had 21 points and four boards. Karl-Anthony Towns notched 10 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Rudy Gobert recorded eight points and 14 rebounds. Mike Conley scored 13 points and added five assists in his return. Naz Reid chipped in with 10 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. The Timberwolves shot 46.5 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from deep.
Nikola Jokic had 22 points and nine rebounds for the Nuggets. Aaron Gordon notched 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Jamal Murray had 10 points and five assists, but he shot a woeful 4-for-18 from the field, including 2-for-7 from three-point range. No other Denver player scored in double digits. The Nuggets shot 30.2 percent from the field and 19.4 percent from three-point range.