In a thrilling display of resilience and determination, the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a 20-point second-half deficit to eliminate the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets in a Game 7 spectacle on Sunday night. The Timberwolves' 98-90 victory marked the largest comeback in a Game 7 in NBA playoff history, a feat that will be etched in the annals of the sport.
Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves' rising star, was instrumental in this historic comeback. Despite a slow start, Edwards finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. His impact was felt beyond his 6-of-24 shooting, including a 2-for-10 3-point performance. "There's more ways to win the basketball game when you're just not an offensive player," Edwards said, emphasizing his multi-dimensional approach to the game.
The Timberwolves' victory was a team effort, with Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels each contributing 23 points. The team's defense, recognized as the NBA's stingiest, was crucial in their comeback, holding the Nuggets to just 37 points in the final two quarters.
The Nuggets, despite a strong start led by Jamal Murray's 24 first-half points, became the fifth consecutive defending champion to fail to reach the conference finals. "They gave us all we could handle and they ended up winning Game 7 on our home court, which is a tough one to swallow. But we'll be back," said Nuggets coach Michael Malone, reflecting on the intense series.
This victory propels the Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals for the first time in exactly 20 years. They will face the Dallas Mavericks beginning Wednesday night at Target Center. This marks the Timberwolves' first Game 7 since beating Sacramento in the second round exactly 20 years earlier, the only other time they reached the conference finals.
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