Timberwolves Rises From Behind To Win Game 7 Over Nuggets, Advances To Western Final

Anthony Edwards, inspired the Minnesota Timberwolves victory (photo: x @Timberwolves)

Timberwolves members recorded a dramatic victory in Game 7 against Denver Nugets, on Monday, May 20, WIB. They were able to remove a 20-point deficit to win 98-90 in the semifinals of the Western Region. This victory brought Timberwolves to the final of the Western Region for the first time in 20 years.

Karl-Anthony Towns menjadi bintang dengan mencetak 23 poin dan 12 rebound, sementara Jaden McDaniels juga menyumbang 23 poin. Timberwolves, yang merupakan unggulan ketiga, akan menghadapi Dallas Mavericks di Game 1 pada Rabu 22 Mei atau Kamis pagi WIB di Minneapolis.

Mike Conley, who previously had a record of 0-4 in Game 7, finally tasted victory in this decisive match. "I don't think they understand what they just did, reaching the West Conference final," Conley said of his younger teammates. "It's a great opportunity; don't waste it."

Anthony Edwards, despite only 6 of 24 shots, still scoring 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, helped end Nuggets' efforts to win their second straight NBA title. Rudy Gobert also performed brilliantly in the fourth quarter scoring eight of his 13 points, including a 12-foot turnaround shot that brought Minnesota ahead with 7:43 remaining time.

"When Rudy was doing the turnaround, I thought, 'Yes, we might succeed,'" said Edwards. Nikola Jokic leads Nuggets with 34 points, 19 rebounds, and seven assists, while Jamal Murray accounts for 35 points. This is the second defeat in the last six seasons for Nuggets at Game 7 at home.

"The season ends, it's a tough one," said Denver coach Michael Malone. Nuggets had a hard time facing Timberwolves' tight defense throughout the series, especially in the last 22 minutes when they only scored 32 points.

They are the fifth defending champions in a row who were eliminated from the playoffs before the regional final. "It's hard because the other teams are hungry, maybe more talented than last year," Jokic said. "Everyone is getting better, everyone wants to beat us."

Minnesota took first place since the first quarter through the 12-second Gobert floater entered the fourth quarter, and then took the 77-72 lead after two Gobert free throws with 8:23 remaining. Jokic managed to score two three-point shots to keep Nuggets close, bringing the score closer to 81-78 with 6:46 remaining.

Naz Reid, who scored 11 points, made two free throws, blocked Jokic's shot, and put back in the fourth quarter. Edwards scored three points from Murray's turnover to put Timberwolves lead 9282 with 3:07 remaining. Denver approached 93-88 with 1:02 remaining, but the Towns dunk ensured a Minnesota trip to the final of the conference.

"I've been here nine years. I've talked about wanting to win and do something special here with this organization," Towns said. "I've seen everything and saw everything, and been here this year, with these people, this team, after all that, is very special."

Nuggets had run 16-0 linking the first and second quarters and leading 53-38 in half. They pushed their lead to 58-38 with 10:50 remaining in the third quarter, but Timberwolves made a superb comeback, using a 19-3 run to get the score closer to 61-57 with 3:05 remaining in that period.

Towns then made two free throws to get Minnesota closer in two points, and Edwards scored three points with 1.6 seconds remaining to score 67-66 for Denver towards the fourth quarter.

"It shows who we are," Edwards said. "The coaches trust us, even in the third quarter when we are 20 points behind. Once we really focus on defense, we are a team that is difficult to beat."