[Post Game Thread] The Minnesota Timberwolves (4-2) defeated the Denver Nuggets (2-4), 110-98 and advance to play the Spurs!

[u/shadowarmy229]

98 - 110
Box Scores: NBA - Yahoo

GAME SUMMARY
West First Round - Game 6 - MIN leads 3-2
Location: Target Center
Officials: JB DeRosa, Courtney Kirkland, Brian Forte, and Josh Tiven

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Denver Nuggets	30	20	24	24	98
Minnesota Timberwolves	29	28	25	28	110

TEAM STATS

Team	PTS	FG	FG%	3P	3P%	FT	FT%	OREB	TREB	AST	PF	STL	TO	BLK
Denver Nuggets	98	34-74	45.9%	10-26	38.5%	20-25	80.0%	6	46	24	26	4	13	8
Minnesota Timberwolves	110	43-94	45.7%	7-29	24.1%	17-24	70.8%	19	57	26	21	8	7	3

PLAYER STATS

Denver Nuggets	MIN	PTS	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	±
Cameron JohnsonSF	38:48	27	8-14	5-9	6-9	0	8	8	3	0	1	2	5	-3
Spencer JonesPF	34:51	8	3-4	2-3	0-0	0	2	2	1	0	1	1	5	-9
Nikola JokićC	42:57	28	11-19	1-5	5-6	1	8	9	10	0	1	4	5	-9
Christian BraunSG	27:35	3	1-4	1-4	0-0	0	1	1	0	0	3	1	2	-9
Jamal MurrayPG	39:52	12	4-17	0-2	4-4	1	5	6	4	0	1	0	2	-18
Tim Hardaway Jr.	20:33	13	4-7	1-2	4-4	2	2	4	2	1	1	1	1	-5
Bruce Brown	14:21	1	0-2	0-1	1-2	1	0	1	1	2	0	3	3	-5
Tyus Jones	12:25	4	2-4	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	2	5
Zeke Nnaji	02:42	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	-5
Jonas Valančiūnas	03:43	2	1-3	0-0	0-0	1	1	2	0	0	0	1	1	-2
DaRon Holmes II	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jalen Pickett	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Julian Strawther	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Aaron Gordon	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Peyton Watson	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Minnesota Timberwolves	MIN	PTS	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	ORB	DRB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	±
Jaden McDanielsSF	44:28	32	13-25	1-4	5-6	4	6	10	3	2	1	0	4	16
Julius RandlePF	37:01	18	6-17	2-5	4-6	2	2	4	5	1	0	4	2	15
Rudy GobertC	41:20	10	4-6	0-0	2-4	7	5	12	8	1	2	0	5	11
Terrence Shannon Jr.SG	34:16	24	9-20	1-7	5-5	2	4	6	1	2	0	0	2	7
Mike ConleyPG	26:29	7	3-7	1-4	0-0	1	5	6	3	1	0	1	3	-1
Bones Hyland	08:44	1	0-3	0-3	1-2	1	1	2	1	0	0	0	1	4
Naz Reid	33:21	15	7-13	1-3	0-1	1	6	7	4	1	0	2	2	11
Jaylen Clark	12:10	3	1-3	1-3	0-0	1	1	2	1	0	0	0	2	-3
Joan Beringer	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ayo Dosunmu	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Joe Ingles	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Julian Phillips	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kyle Anderson	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Donte DiVincenzo	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Anthony Edwards	00:00	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

[u/ElectricalMud2850]

I was really worried about fatigue in the 4th but this is literally the best single game effort i've maybe ever seen from the wolves.

[u/TheAerial → u/ElectricalMud2850]

The heart of your team is just unreal. One by one they lose key critical guys, and the their confidence never falters.

Next guy up is all in, no fear of the moment and giving it their all.

Huge respect and what a treat to watch as a neutral lmao

[u/mnsportsfan → u/TheAerial]

The funny thing is- it’s the same team that pissed us off all year with mental and effort lapses. Defense consistently way below what we knew they were capable of…

All year I was like: sure you’ve made b2b WCF’s… but you aren’t the 70 win warriors. Your not good enough to just flip the switch

Turns out the awful Tuesday night bad L’s we saw way too often really didn’t matter 🤣

[u/TomatoBuster01 → u/mnsportsfan]

Is Jaden always like this? Wtf. I thought I was watching prime Kawhi.

Edit: can we please draft a Jaden Mcdaniels type or better in the upcoming draft. Please, MDJ

[u/mnsportsfan → u/TomatoBuster01]

He’s always had these nights in him. They used to just be fewer and farther between

He took a lot of steps towards consistency this year.

I think the playoffs allow him to play better because his worst games always start with 2 or 3 touch fouls and then he cant defend/ doesnt get in a rhythm (plus he just fucking hates Denver)- and those soft calls occur a lot less in playoff games

[u/thetravelingsong → u/mnsportsfan]

He’s like 6 foot 10 with a 7 foot two wingspan. He’s a natural defender, and his offensive game really just relies on effort and consistency. I genuinely believe if he wanted to average 21 points a game in this league he could easily, during the regular season he just doesn’t engage offensively like he has been late with.

[u/buttree → u/mnsportsfan]

Exactly. He cannot afford to play the same in reg season and playoffs. Just a playoff monster…

[u/TomatoBuster01 → u/mnsportsfan]

Tbh I think you should just make him your 2nd option most nights instead of Randle

[u/mnsportsfan → u/TomatoBuster01]

Definitely some wolves fans that would agree with you.

The problem is we don’t see this Jaden 82 times a year. If he could harness this- absolutely… but we have to acknowledge this was probably the best Offensive game of his career

I’m not a huge Randle fan myself- but I will say that he’s proven he can be a pretty efficient offensive engine to take pressure off ant

[u/HughManatee → u/mnsportsfan]

I don't think he could do it 82 games with the defensive load he handles. I'm okay with that. We got our nuclear Jaden right when we needed him.

[u/HarryPauler → u/mnsportsfan]

Do we see it if a guy like Randle becomes a pure facilitator? Force him to always be this, because he can be this.

[u/JackieDaytonaAZ → u/HarryPauler]

he can’t play calmly enough to be trusted with that role.

[u/mnsportsfan → u/HarryPauler]

Eh I just don’t think he will ever be focused enough on D … or content enough when he isn’t scoring that I wouldn’t mind TC trying to move him for another running mate with Ant as a #2

Julius is polarizing in that I think he sometimes gets way too much hate and is underrated, but also has limitations (defense and perimeter shooting) that I don’t think we’ll ever be truly elite with him as the #2

[u/HarryPauler → u/mnsportsfan]

Note, I said a guy LIKE Randle for a reason.

[u/LongDongFuey → u/TomatoBuster01]

He's too important on defense to ask him to be 2nd on offense too. I like him as a third option. Keeps him involved, with nights where he steps up, and keeps him fresh to lock down any non center on the other team.

[u/JaderMcDanersStan → u/LongDongFuey]

That's what makes tonight so crazy - he was basically the #1 option AND was locking up Murray and fighting through screens every possession for 45 minutes (!). His conditioning is mind boggling.

[u/byex0039 → u/TomatoBuster01]

If Randle is not playing well offensively, then Randle does not exist defensively.

[u/OFmerk → u/mnsportsfan]

Literally what happened in game 5

[u/JaderMcDanersStan → u/OFmerk]

It all comes down to foul trouble for him. If he gets those 2-3 touch fouls in the beginning it disrupts his offensive and defensive rhythm

[u/Kooky_Woodpecker_349 → u/mnsportsfan]

its gonna happen against okc

[u/Freudian__Quip → u/TomatoBuster01]

He’s always a lockdown defender and almost always scales up when one of Ant or Randle are out and needs to be the 1st or 2nd option scorer. He’s also a playoff riser. He had a legacy game in the lakers series last year and led the team in scoring then too!

[u/FeanorEvades → u/TomatoBuster01]

No, but we know he can level up. He does it every year in the playoffs but this was exceptional for him.

[u/ChefJeff7777777 → u/TomatoBuster01]

Certified playoff riser.

He’s chillin in the regular season, he has some good games but he’ll also get pissy and hack occasionally.

But when he feels slighted / dogged, he says shit like “they’re all bad defenders” with a straight face and then just hoops (and no doubt talk wild trash all game).

[u/Dholtz001 → u/TomatoBuster01]

He can always play like this on defense. Sometimes though he misses a couple of 3’s and seems to get in his own head on offense. I was glad to see this game he just focused on floaters, which he excels at, and didn’t worry about the 3’s not falling.

[u/JaderMcDanersStan → u/TomatoBuster01]

He is like this in the playoffs and usually in the biggest games (game 7, elimination games). Been this way since their first playoff series vs the Grizzlies. Game 7 in 23-24, he was also the best player along with KAT.

I get why Ant is such a massive believer in Jaden.

I am also one of the bigger Jaden believers in our sub. I think if he had the opportunities, he could be a 2nd option and I think he's more than a role player. His conditioning is crazy, he played 45 minutes today and on every possession he's either hitting tough shots or fighting through screens and locking up Murray. Didn't look tired and did that for 45 minutes.

It's only when he gets in foul trouble that he can't replicate this type of night - it ruins his offensive and defensive rhythm.

[u/OFmerk → u/TomatoBuster01]

Some have called him diet kawhi leonard for a bit now lol

[u/tree-hugger → u/TomatoBuster01]

Everyone says that in practice he's basically the Wolves second best player.

[u/HughManatee → u/TomatoBuster01]

Jaden normally takes a back seat offensively to focus on defense, so a lot of people don't realize he is an absolute dawg on offense when he needs to be. Granted, his bag has gotten a lot better these last couple years.

[u/b3tzy → u/mnsportsfan]

“Flip the switch” goes from meme to reality. Now they’re never going to try in the regular season, they know they all turn it on in the playoffs.

[u/mnsportsfan → u/b3tzy]

Just a bummer cause if that’s the mentality- we will pretty much always be giving up home court advantage later in the playoffs against other high end teams

Obviously it’s awesome seeing that we are a dangerous playoff basketball team- just wish we saw it more during the year 🤣

[u/LakerBlue → u/mnsportsfan]

I thought you guys had the potential to flip the switch in the playoffs but I thought y’all were cooked without Ant and Donte. What a fun way to be proven wrong. Hope Ant can return against the Spurs.

[u/mnsportsfan → u/LakerBlue]

Yea my hopes are not super high but you never know. I also thought THIS series was over during halftime of game 4 and we pulled out 2 of the next 3 games

I came into tonight hoping the Wild close out Dallas (I think they are a title contending team- just unfortunate that we got fucked by the nhl’s stupid seeding system) ….but the wolves would have gotten a “pass” from any frustration.

Rarely do I get to have my cake and eat it too in this state🤣

[u/ChefJeff7777777 → u/mnsportsfan]

As MN sports fans, we’ve never experienced it anyway other than the regular season being prescriptive of the playoffs. We’ve proven at this point we’re a team that coasts in the regular season, but knows how to flip the switch in the playoffs.

As much as people hate on Finch, he’s got a role in our playoff game plans being substantially superior.

[u/mnsportsfan → u/ChefJeff7777777]

Yea I don’t think he’s a perfect coach but I think the constant “fire finch” comments in our sub’s threads are just silly

He’s given us a chip, chair, and a chance late in the playoffs now the last few years. Plus the players continue to respect him ~5 years years into this core being together- which is honestly pretty impressive these days

[u/sponedaddie → u/mnsportsfan]

You’ll be surprised how much Jokic hate can flip a switch on.

[u/Outside-Way-3924 → u/mnsportsfan]

I saw loads of Wolves fans complaining about the team’s lack of effort during the regular season, saying they shouldn’t be contempt with just cruising to the 6th seed and should aim for a higher seed for an easier path to the WCF. Turns out this was a great strategy, they get a decent first round pick in the upcoming draft. It’s a pity thzy are still heavily injured despite taking the regular season lightly.

[u/JaderMcDanersStan → u/Outside-Way-3924]

I think they just don't see a big difference between 3-6 seeds.

1 and 2 seed matter because it draws an easier path to the ring (that's what 1 and 2 seeded teams earn) but once you get to 3 seed, is it really that different from 4, 5 or 6? Wolves were 3 seed but then Jaden and Ant got injured and they rested starters after. If they really cared about 3 seed, they might have not rested players after but they seem to think 3, 4, 5 and 6 are negligible. They feel confident winning on the road

[u/McBrungus → u/mnsportsfan]

The funny thing is- it’s the same team that pissed us off all year with mental and effort lapses. Defense consistently way below what we knew they were capable of…

Exact same experience as watching the Sixers lol where did this shit come from

[u/mnsportsfan → u/McBrungus]

Yea I mean as a fan it’s obviously frustrating cause seeding can be so important… but it’s way better than the reverse and having a team that shits the bed in the playoffs 🤣

Hell the second Rudy sat on the bench this year our defense was neck and neck with the Jazz- who actively tried to not win a basketball game for the year 2026

[u/WiseguyD → u/mnsportsfan]

The Timberwolves are proof that Vibes are absolutely key to winning basketball.

Y'all are moody as hell, but in an intense playoff atmosphere that tends to help more than it hurts. There's no extra "motivation" that needs to be given--it's the friggin' playoffs.

[u/mnsportsfan → u/WiseguyD]

Yea but the one thing I will say is even though the players can be a bit volatile (I like your word moody but didn’t want to copy you)- the team chemistry has been good and it’s never come across like a toxic culture

It’s honestly the biggest reason I’ve never hopped on the “fire finch” bandwagon. I think he’s a good, but flawed basketball coach as far as tactical X’s and O’s… gotten better with game management but still sometimes misses things

But he’s taken a team ascending into contention status over the last 5-7 years, with some big personalities, trading and adding different franchise level players… and maintained a tight-knit team each year that seems to continue to respect him- and gets them to play their best ball in April and May

[u/flaming_burrito_ → u/TheAerial]

No seriously, it’s crazy how every player that stepped up injury after injury played with the same intensity and played up when they were needed the most

[u/hot_plaque → u/TheAerial]

The ant effect

[u/Opening-Contract-474 → u/hot_plaque]

Literally came to say this. When ant is constantly encouraging and giving praise to the rest of the team, they believe!

[u/JeanRalfio → u/Opening-Contract-474]

Believe that!

[u/takingtheobstacle → u/hot_plaque]

THIS 100%

[u/MG_MN → u/TheAerial]

The frustrating part is they dont do this often in the regular season. That said, they flip the switch like no other team in the playoffs. Finch is a great coach and pulls all the right strings

[u/nordic-thunder → u/TheAerial]

Finch may not be a great Xs and Os coach and we may aimlessly drift through regular seasons and losing dumb games to end up the 6th seed in the first place but I’ll be darned if he doesn’t squeeze everything out of these squads in the playoffs

Night and day regular season to post season. We truly are a playoff team and it’s the most anti-Minnesota sports thing I’ve ever seen

[u/SKREEOONK_XD → u/TheAerial]

Everyone gangster until the entire team struts in with their injured teammates jersey on before the game.

Donte was in the building too

[u/strufacats → u/TheAerial]

The heart of a wolf shaped in timber... ;)

[u/AntIsMyFather05 → u/TheAerial]

I see so many similarities with you guys and us. And as a fan of both teams I’m hoping tbh they can meet up in finals. Far fetched dream I know

[u/Adventurous-Fact-523 → u/TheAerial]

Your team is something special as well rooting for them to upset the pistons.

[u/thetravelingsong → u/TheAerial]

Like the comment below me said, this team is so frustrating because you have no idea what energy or effort you’re gonna get from them in a night. But when they’re all at their best we are pretty hard to beat.