The Nuggets’ title defence has come to an end with the defending champions bowing out at the hands of the Timberwolves who won Game 7 of their Western Conference Semi Finals series 98-90 in Denver.
The Timberwolves found themselves trailing 58-38 early in the third quarter before crafting a 54-24 run to stun the Denver crowd and surge towards a famous Game 7 victory.
With each uncharacteristic miscue, the lead slipped further as a hush fell over the Ball Arena crowd and a wave of energy zapped through the Timberwolves bench.
It is the largest comeback in Game 7 history in the play-by-play era (1997-98).
The lead swung back the way of the Timberwolves early in the final frame but remained tight until a late 9-2 dash spurred them home.
Tempers flared a little late with the Nuggets taking issue with Anthony Edwards’ and Jaden McDaniels’ attempts at showboating, but the players ultimately embraced postgame.
Edwards (16 pts, 8 reb, 7 ast, 6/24 FG) struggled through a tough shooting night but found ways to impact the game throughout the second half.
McDaniels (23 pts, 6 reb, 7/10 FG) was terrific whilst Karl-Anthony Towns (23 pts, 12 reb, 8/14 FG, 5 fouls) and Naz Reid (11 pts, 4 reb, 4/7 FG) also found ways to be effective.
Rudy Gobert (13 pts, 9 reb, 2 blk) was key for Minnesota despite fouling out late whilst the calm demeanour of Mike Conley’s (10 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast) proved critical.
Neither team shot well but Minnesota’s defensive activity clearly troubled Denver throughout the series and proved the difference in a tight Game 7.
Nikola Jokić (34 pts, 19 reb, 7 ast) and Jamal Murray (35 pts, 13/27 FG) combined for 69 points and looked unstoppable at stages, but both made critical errors throughout Minnesota’s second half run.
It proved a night to forget for the likes of Michael Porter Jr. (7 pts, 3/12 FG), Aaron Gordon (4 pts, 2/4 FG), and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5 pts, 2/7 FG).
Minnesota will advance to the Western Conference Finals for just the second time in franchise history and first time since 2004.
They will face the Mavericks with the series beginning in Minneapolis on Thursday.
