Minnesota Timberwolves Advance to Western Conference Finals
The Minnesota Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years. The Timberwolves, who trailed by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, stormed back to complete the largest comeback in a Game 7 in the past 25 postseasons to dethrone the defending champion Nuggets. Anthony Edwards had an off night on the offensive end. Rudy Gobert and Karl Anthony-Towns picked up the slack and Mike Conley hit a pair of critical shots. The Timberwolves used a 32-9 run from the 10:50 mark of the third quarter to 11:14 of the fourth to wrest control of the game from the Nuggets. While Edwards started just 1-for-9 from the field, he found more success after halftime, scoring nine points in the third, including a step-back 3 to beat the quarter buzzer.
Rudy Gobert, Minnesota’s four-time Defensive Player of the Year, added an unexpected offensive punch in the fourth quarter, scoring eight of his 13 points in the final frame — including a miraculous, arcing turnaround jump shot — after starting the game 1-for-5. In the second half, Gobert helped the Timberwolves hold the Nuggets to just 37 points on 35.9% shooting (19% from 3) and outrebound Denver 29-15. Minnesota went ahead by as many as 10 in the fourth on an Edwards corner 3 with 3:05 remaining, causing the Nuggets to call timeout as Edwards screamed and jumped for joy, hugging a courtside fan. A loud contingent of traveling Minnesota fans filled the arena with a “Let’s go Wolves!” chant to punctuate the moment.
And Towns pointed out that Sunday happened to be Timberwolves legend Kevin Garnett’s 48th birthday, making it more appropriate that Minneapolis is going to party like it’s 2004. For the first time in two decades, when Garnett & Co. lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games, the Wolves are back in the conference finals. Minnesota will host the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals beginning Wednesday night. Dallas advanced to the Western Conference Finals by beating Oklahoma City four games to two.
