Anthony Edwards, Wolves Stun NBA Fans with 20-Point Rally to Top Jokić, Nuggets in G7
May 20, 2024
The Minnesota Timberwolves appeared to be on their way to a disappointing end to their season when they fell behind by 20 points in the second half of Sunday's Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Denver Nuggets.
However, the Timberwolves mounted a furious comeback to earn a 98-90 win that sent the defending NBA champions home in surprising fashion. It's Minnesota's first trip to the conference finals since 2004.
The Nuggets held a 58-38 lead early in the third quarter before things fell apart. The Timberwolves closed the quarter on a 28-9 run and didn't let up, leading by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter and outscoring the Nuggets 60-37 in the second half.
Minnesota used a collective effort to take down Denver, as six players scored in double figures. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels also had 23 points.
Star guard Anthony Edwards posted 16 points while shooting just 6-of-24 from the field, but he made some key shots down the stretch. Rudy Gobert had 13 points and nine rebounds before fouling out, and Naz Reid had 11 points off the bench while playing outstanding defense. Mike Conley posted 10 points.
The defensive effort by the Timberwolves was also impressive, as fans in Ball Arena were left silent while the Nuggets struggled to regain control of the game. Jamal Murray had a game-high 35 points and NBA MVP Nikola Jokić stuffed the stat sheet with 34 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists.
However, no other player on the team scored more than seven points. Denver fell to 0-12 in the regular season and playoffs when being held to fewer than 100 points.
Players, fans and pundits on social media were blown away by the Timberwolves' comeback in Sunday's Game 7:
NBA @NBAThe Timberwolves erased a TWENTY-POINT 2nd half deficit in Game 7 to advance to their first Western Conference Finals since 2004!<br><br>This 20-point comeback is the LARGEST in Game 7 history in the play-by-play era (1997-1998). <a href="https://t.co/kfOYTs5qt2">pic.twitter.com/kfOYTs5qt2</a>
The Timberwolves were the No. 1 defensive team in the league this season, and they showed their prowess in Sunday's contest. They will need every bit of that if they hope to make it to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.
Minnesota will host the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday night.