Timberwolves Eliminate Nuggets, Advance to Western Semifinals

Minnesota beat Denver 110-98 at the Target Center, completing a 4-2 series win. Jaden McDaniels posted a career-high 32 points, 10 rebounds and two steals. Terrence Shannon Jr. added 24 points, six rebounds. Rudy Gobert nearly recorded a triple-double with 10 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists. Nikola Jokic had 28 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds; Jamal Murray managed 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting. The Wolves out-rebounded Denver 50-33 and out-scored them in the paint 64-40.

Bleacher ReportESPN4 takeaways: Timberwolves back up the big talk, take down Nuggets for good in Game 6BBC News“We are far away from contention”- Nikola Jokic after Nuggets playoffs exitHeavyThe Sporting News

Minnesota entered without Anthony Edwards (knee injury), Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles rupture), Ayo Dosunmu (calf soreness) and Kyle Anderson (undisclosed). Denver missed Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson.

4 takeaways: Timberwolves back up the big talk, take down Nuggets for good in Game 6

Minnesota’s defense limited Denver to 19.4 % from three-point range. McDaniels’ length disrupted Jamal Murray, whose series average of 23.7 points fell to 12 in the clincher. Gobert’s interior presence helped secure the 64-40 paint advantage. Rebounding and paint dominance proved decisive.

Bleacher Report

Coach Chris Finch said the team used Denver’s choice of opponent as a personal motivator, describing the series as a personal battle. He praised McDaniels for taking on the opponent’s primary scorers. Jokic, after the loss, said he needed to improve his play. Finch also noted the front-court shift that paired Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Gobert.

4 takeaways: Timberwolves back up the big talk, take down Nuggets for good in Game 6

Jokic rejected blame on coach David Adelman, saying the shortcomings were collective and that the team would likely have been fired if the performance had occurred in Serbia. Analysts highlighted Murray’s 35.7 % field-goal rate and Denver’s 19.4 % three-point shooting as signs of offensive stagnation. The defeat ended Denver’s 12-game regular-season winning streak.

4 takeaways: Timberwolves back up the big talk, take down Nuggets for good in Game 6

Most sources list the final score as 110-98 for Minnesota. One outlet records it as 98-114, reversing the margin. The discrepancy remains unresolved.

Bleacher Report

• “I needed to play better. I must play better.” — Nikola Jokic, center, Denver Nuggets

BBC News

• “We used that as a motivation all through preparation and the series.” — Chris Finch, head coach, Minnesota Timberwolves

4 takeaways: Timberwolves back up the big talk, take down Nuggets for good in Game 6

• “I just didn’t care, I said what I said,” — Jaden McDaniels, forward, Minnesota Timberwolves

4 takeaways: Timberwolves back up the big talk, take down Nuggets for good in Game 6

• “Just come out and compete, get ready for the next round.” — Jaden McDaniels, forward, Minnesota Timberwolves

Heavy

• “Rudy was fantastic. I mean, Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame defender,” — Jaden McDaniels, forward, Minnesota Timberwolves

4 takeaways: Timberwolves back up the big talk, take down Nuggets for good in Game 6

Minnesota will meet the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the Western semifinals, with Game 1 set for Monday, May 4. Rudy Gobert will face Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama, the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.

BBC News