The Minnesota Timberwolves made an incredible comeback, overcoming a 20-point deficit to defeat the Denver Nuggets 98-90 in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.
As a result of this victory, Minnesota has secured a spot in the Western Conference Finals for the first time in two decades. On the other hand, the Nuggets have become the fifth consecutive defending champion to be eliminated before reaching the conference finals.
According to ESPN, it was the biggest Game 7 comeback in 25 years.
After the game, Timberwolves' young star Anthony Edwards said, "It really showed us what we're made of. Our coaches never lost faith in us. Even when we were down by 20 in the third quarter, they kept encouraging us to keep pushing and making runs."
The Nuggets dominated the Timberwolves from the start, building a 17-point lead by halftime. They extended their lead to 20 points with 10 minutes and 50 seconds left in the third quarter.
"It really showed us our potential. Our offense was decent, but when we focus on defense, we become a tough team to beat," said one player.
By the end of the quarter, the Timberwolves had reduced the point difference to just one, bringing a surge of energy into the fourth quarter at the surprised Ball Arena.
Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Timberwolves, with Jaden McDaniels also scoring 23 points and grabbing six rebounds.
Edwards struggled early on, but he managed to bounce back in the second half, scoring 12 out of his total 16 points, grabbing all eight of his rebounds, and dishing out four of his seven assists during that time.
On the other side, Jamal Murray led the scoring for the Nuggets with an impressive 35 points, while Nikola Jokić also had a strong performance with 34 points, 19 rebounds, and seven assists.
In the end, Murray and Jokić struggled to break through Minnesota's tough defense, which was the top-ranked defense in the league during the regular season, especially in the second half.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokić couldn't power the Nuggets past the Timberwolves.
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokić couldn't power the Nuggets past the Timberwolves.
AAron Ontiveroz/Denver Post/Getty Images
"Every series is a chance to learn," stated Nuggets head coach Michael Malone. "Feeling like this sucks. I reminded our players that we work hard from training camp to the end, only for it to stop suddenly.
"It's painful. But let's use this feeling to fuel our motivation and return as stronger players."
The Timberwolves now advance to play the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, with Game 1 taking place in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
Pacers stun Knicks in Game 7 at MSG
The Indiana Pacers had an incredible shooting performance in Game 7 against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. They shot an impressive 67.1% from the field, which is the highest shooting percentage ever recorded in an NBA playoff game, as reported by ESPN.
It was the first road game that either team had won in this playoff series. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle described his team as the “uninvited guest” on Sunday night. “Here we are. When you win a Game 7 in Madison Square Garden, you’ve made history. It’s very, very difficult to do,” he told reporters.
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 26 points, followed by Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam with 20 points each.
The Knicks faced more challenges when their key player, Jalen Brunson, broke his hand in the fourth quarter, making their evening even more difficult.
Donte DiVincenzo led the Knicks with an impressive 39 points in the game.
Despite the tough situation, Knicks fans showed their appreciation for Josh Hart by giving him a big standing ovation as he was subbed out in the fourth quarter. Hart has been a key player, playing almost every minute this season and even pushing through an injury in Game 7.
The Pacers face the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday.