After an exciting series against the Denver Nuggets, the Minnesota Timberwolves are heading to the Western Conference Finals. It was a back and forth affair, the tug of war leading the two teams to a Game 7 showdown in Denver.
Timberwolves-Nuggets Game 7 Showdown Makes NBA History
Following their worst playoff loss in franchise history, the Nuggets came out swinging, quickly gaining separation from the Wolves as Jamal Murray came to life.
Then facing a 15-point deficit at halftime, the Timberwolves completed the largest comeback in Game 7 history. In fact, they were behind as many as 20 points in the third quarter after Murray hit a 3 with 10 minutes remaining. However, finishing the game on a 60-32 run, Minnesota was able to take down the reigning champs and reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years.
The @Timberwolves trailed by 15 at halftime—it’s the largest halftime deficit EVER overcome in a Game 7! 🤯#NBA | #WolvesBack pic.twitter.com/MTjLP6v4if
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) May 20, 2024
The previous record was held by the Golden State Warriors, who faced an 11-point halftime deficit in 1975 and 2018. The Warriors went on the win the NBA Finals in both seasons. Only time will tell if the Wolves will have the same fate. That said, in the superstitious world of sports, Golden State’s previous success might inspire even more confidence in Minnesota’s chances of lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy in June.
The Connelly Effect
After the game, Nuggets fulcrum Nikola Jokic said that the Timberwolves were “built to beat us.”
“I think they’re built to beat us.”
Nikola Jokic on if the Timberwolves could be rivals moving forward.#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/xWuyXEEVB0
— NBA (@NBA) May 20, 2024
Considering that Minnesota’s Conference Finals-bound team was constructed by Tim Connelly, Jokic likely isn’t far off the mark.
Connelly was the primary architect of the Denver’s title-winning team, leaving the organization the year before they won a championship. Having spent nine seasons with the Nuggets, he’s as familiar with the ins-and-outs of the team than anyone, from Jokic to Nuggets head coach Michael Malone. Indeed, both Jokic and Malone were brought to Denver while Connelly was at the helm.
Three Keys
In facing the Nuggets, even the best laid plans may go to waste. However, there are three keys to defeating Denver: defense, discipline, and decision-making. In defeating the Nuggets, the Wolves relied on an aggressive and principled defensive strategy.
Their switching, ball pressure, and constant contests kept Murray and Michael Porter Jr. in check. Jokic was elite with 29.0 points per game that series. However, he shot 51.7 percent from the field and 22.9 percent thanks to Karl Anthony-Towns, Naz Reid, and Rudy Gobert. For reference, Jokic hasn’t shot below 56 percent from the field in four seasons. He’s never shot below 30 percent from 3.
With that three-headed monster guarding the paint, Jokic also was less aggressive than usual. Just 16.4 percent of his field goal attempts were behind the 3-point line in the 2023-24 regular season. 23.2 percent of his shot attempts were 3s when he faced the Wolves.
