The Timberwolves came back from a 20-point deficit to take a 4-3 series victory over the Nuggets, led by MVP Nikola Jokic.
The Minnesota Timberwolves used a stunning second-half comeback to defeat the Denver Nuggets 98-90, eliminating the defending champions from the NBA Playoffs.
It was the sixth consecutive season that the defending champions failed to make it past the second round.
“The team is hungrier and better, [more] He's more talented than last year,'' Denver star Nikola Jokic said of the difficulty of repeating even a season in which he won the Most Valuable Player award for the third time.
“Everyone is getting better. Everyone probably wants to beat us.”
Following their 45-point victory in Game 6, the Timberwolves made a dramatic comeback from a 20-point deficit in the third quarter to win the best-of-seven series 4-3 and advance to a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. They qualified for the Western Conference Finals.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Jayden McDaniels added 23 points, Anthony Edwards got a boost late, and the Timberwolves came back from an 11-point deficit at halftime to take the lead. They became the first team to win seven games. .
As Edwards and the Timberwolves found a rhythm and cut the deficit to one point heading into the final quarter, the Nuggets went cold, with Rudy Gobert making a driving layup early in the fourth quarter.
“They were scoring,” said Jokic, who scored 14 of his 34 points in the fourth. “They had a lot of offensive rebounds. They couldn't shoot.
“I think we had a lot of open looks, wide looks, but that's what happens. Sometimes you make shots, sometimes you miss shots, but I think we missed a lot of good shots today. think.
“But it's not just our fault. They played good defense.”
But Jokic said he won't buy into the idea that the loss felt even worse because the Nuggets should have won.
“I don't believe that,” said the Serb. “I think the winning team is the better team.”
Led by Karl Anthony Towns @TimberwolvesA united effort to come back from 20th behind to win Game 7 and advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2004!
Jayden McDaniels: 23 points, 6 rebounds
Anthony Edwards: 16 PTS, 8 REB, 7 ASTThe first round of WCF Tips will take place on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/3k7z9vLGen
— NBA (@NBA) May 20, 2024
Pacers defeat Knicks 130-109 to advance to Eastern Conference Finals
Tyrese Haliburton scored 26 points and the Indiana Pacers overcame the most sensational first half in Game 7 history to beat the New York Knicks 130-109 and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 10 years.
The Pacers set an NBA playoff record by shooting 67.1 percent from the field, advancing to take on top-seeded Boston in a series starting Tuesday. Indiana last reached the conference finals in 2014, losing to Miami.
The Pacers made 29 of 38 shots in the first half, and their 76.3 percent shooting percentage was the highest in the postseason since 1997, when the NBA began recording detailed play-by-play for every fourth quarter. Ta. At that point, the team led 70-55 and trailed every time the Knicks tried to score in the second half.
“I just told my team that if we win Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, we've made history,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.
