Timberwolves got here again from 20 factors right down to win the sequence 4-3 in opposition to MVP Nicola Jokic’s Nuggets.
The Minnesota Timberwolves authored a shocking second-half comeback to beat the Denver Nuggets 98-90, knocking the defending champions out of the NBA playoffs.
It marked the sixth straight season that the defending champions didn’t make it out of the second spherical.
“The groups are extra hungry, higher, [more] proficient than final 12 months,” Denver star Nikola Jokic stated of the issue of repeating, even in a season during which he scooped a 3rd Most Priceless Participant award.
“Everyone will get higher. Everyone desires to beat us, most likely.”
The Timberwolves adopted up a 45-point Recreation 6 victory with an epic comeback from 20 factors down within the third quarter to win their best-of-seven sequence 4-3 and e-book a Western Convention finals conflict with the Dallas Mavericks.
Karl-Anthony Cities scored 23 factors and grabbed 12 rebounds, Jaden McDaniels added 23 factors and Anthony Edwards hit his stride late because the Timberwolves grew to become the primary group to return again from a half-time deficit of greater than 11 factors to win a Recreation 7.
The Nuggets went chilly as Edwards and the Timberwolves constructed a rhythm and reduce the deficit to 1 level going into the ultimate quarter, then took on a driving layup by Rudy Gobert early within the fourth.
“They have been scoring,” stated Jokic, who scored 14 of his 34 factors within the fourth. “They’d plenty of offensive rebounds. We can not make photographs.
“I believe we had plenty of open appears to be like, wide-open appears to be like, however that’s what occurs. Typically you make photographs, generally you miss photographs, and in the present day I believe we missed plenty of good photographs.
“However that’s not simply on us. They performed some good defence.”
However Jokic stated he wouldn’t purchase into the notion that defeat felt worse as a result of the Nuggets ought to have gained.
“I don’t consider in that,” the Serbian stated. “I believe the group who wins is the higher group.”
Karl-Anthony Cities leads the @Timberwolves‘ collective effort as they arrive again from down 20 to win Recreation 7 and advance to their first Western Convention Finals since 2004!
Jaden McDaniels: 23 PTS, 6 REB
Anthony Edwards: 16 PTS, 8 REB, 7 ASTRecreation 1 of the WCF suggestions Wednesday at… pic.twitter.com/3k7z9vLGen
— NBA (@NBA) May 20, 2024
Pacers crush Knicks 130-109 to achieve Japanese Convention finals
Tyrese Haliburton scored 26 factors because the Indiana Pacers rode one of the crucial sensational first halves in Recreation 7 historical past to a 130-109 victory over the New York Knicks, advancing to the Japanese Convention finals for the primary time in 10 years.
The Pacers set an NBA playoff document by taking pictures 67.1 % from the sector and superior to face top-seeded Boston in a sequence that begins on Tuesday. Indiana final reached the convention finals in 2014, shedding to Miami.
The Pacers made 29 of their 38 photographs within the first half, a taking pictures proportion of 76.3 % that was the best within the postseason since 1997, when the NBA started protecting detailed play-by-play for all 4 quarters. They led 70-55 at that time and pulled away each time the Knicks tried to make a run within the second half.
“I simply informed our group once you win a Recreation 7 in Madison Sq. Backyard, you’ve made historical past,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle stated.