Timberwolves Win By 45 Points Vs. Nuggets, Anthony Edwards: ‘I’ll See Y’all For Game 7’

Minnesota definitely played like their season was on the line, as they went on multiple runs throughout the game. In particular, just four minutes into the game (8:09 mark) the Timberwolves started a 20-0 run in the first quarter, that lasted six minutes. Then four minutes into the second quarter (8:02 mark) Minnesota went on a 13-0 run. Lastly, to cap it all off, one minute into the fourth quarter (11:02 mark), the home team went on a 24-0 run, holding the Nuggets scoreless for nearly six and a half minutes. 

The Nuggets simply had no answer for anything, in what was an unforgettable night in Minneapolis for the Denver squad, thereupon Nikola Jokic said during the postgame press conference, that they actually shouldn’t forget about this beatdown, calling it “a great loss.”

“They destroyed us, and you should learn from it,” the 2023-24 MVP said. “They beat our a**. They were better than us in every segment of the game. We need to take it and accept it. Be better next time… When you lose by 45, it’s not something that happens every day.” 

According to ESPN, the 45-point margin of victory was the second most ever in NBA history by a team facing elimination in the playoffs.

Notably, the Timberwolves as a team showcased the same defensive prowess that led them to giving up the least amount of points to opponents in the NBA during the regular season.

To emphasize, led by Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, all five of the Timberwolves’ starters were top 20 in the NBA in individual defensive player rating this season. Furthermore, three of their bench players were top five overall, when you include players playing under 25 minutes per game (Kyle Anderson, Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker).

Edwards went on to say, his focus is on defense, “I want to be the best player on both sides of the ball in the NBA.” 

After holding the Nuggets to shooting 30% from the field and 7-of-36 from deep (19% 3PT), the Timberwolves only conceded 70 points Thursday night, which is also a season-low for points scored in any game this season for Denver. As to point out, the Nuggets’ previous low of 80 points came during Game 2 of this series vs. the Wolves (May 6; 106-80). And this means that each of the three times the Jokic-led Nuggets have been held under 80 points in the playoffs, have all came against Gobert. That is to say, in 2020, the Nuggets defeated Gobert’s Utah Jazz 80-78 in Game 7 of the Western Conference first-round matchup. 

Even after the blowout win, the Timberwolves are definitely not underestimating the Nuggets, knowing that they have to beat the 2022-23 NBA champs on their home court in Denver.

“They’re the defending champs, so it’s going to be super tough,” Edwards said. “They’re at home. They’re at the crib. Their fans are crazy. It’s going to be super loud. But I feel like as a competitor, it’s one of the best feelings in the world. I’m super pumped for it. I’m super happy. I’m ready to play it.”

The third-seeded Timberwolves will head to Denver to take on the second-seeded Nuggets in a Game 7 that will be played on Sunday, May 19 (with the time TBD). Winner of this game will advance to the Western Conference Finals.

Jamal Murray, who is averaging just 15.7 points per game on 38.2% shooting during this Western Conference semi-final round, says he and the Nuggets are putting the past behind them, as they focus up for the next, win or season is over, game 7.

“Now it’s just Sunday, who wins those 48 minutes and how are we going to do that.”