Can the Timberwolves end the 33 year drought?

The Wolves and Nuggets will play at 7 p.m. Sunday and be televised on TNT.

The Pacers-Knicks Game 7 in New York will be played at 2:30 p.m. Sunday and televised on ABC.

Oddsmakers have the Nuggets as five-point favorites to win Game 7 at home and move onto the Western Conference finals.

The Western Conference final series would start on Wednesday. If Oklahoma City advances, it would host the first two games. If Dallas advances — the Mavericks hold a 3-2 series lead going into Saturday night's Game 6 in Texas — it would be on the road at either Denver or Minnesota.

I wonder how much more money does the NBA make when a series goes 7 games rather than 5 or 6?

Actually found myself watching the Pacers Mavs game last night. It's easy to forget just how good basketball can be. I think if you strip out all the baggage, at its core, minute for minute, basketball is the most exciting of all of the four major sports. Hoping for a close one tonight.

I'm a college fan too...

I have not been a core NBA fan since -- well ... Showtime with Magic, Kareem, Nixon, Worthy days. Man, thats a long time ago now.

Rooting for the Wolfies and their fans tonight.

Wow, down by 15 at half and pull it out. I'm shocked.

On Kevin Garnett's birthday too. LFG

Unbelievable. Down 58-38 in the 3rd with Ant shooting bricks and go on a 60-32 run on the road vs. the defending champs. I didn't even find where the game was televised until it was over. I hope TNT does a rerun. Even a shortened/chopped version of that 2nd half would be amazing to see.

Nice the Wolves now have homecourt for the WCF, but that clearly means nothing this year LOL. Mavs and Pacers both won 2 series without homecourt and the Wolves just went 1-2 at home and 3-1 in Denver.

RS_Express wrote:
Unbelievable.  Down 58-38 in the 3rd with Ant shooting bricks and go on a 60-32 run on the road vs. the defending champs.  I didn't even find where the game was televised until it was over. I hope TNT does a rerun.  Even a shortened/chopped version of that 2nd half would be amazing to see.

Nice the Wolves now have homecourt for the WCF, but that clearly means nothing this year LOL. Mavs and Pacers both won 2 series without homecourt and the Wolves just went 1-2 at home and 3-1 in Denver.

When the Nuggets were up to 20 I was rooting for the Wolves to make it a good game. But then I couldn't stop! When Conley hit that three to take the lead for good, I was on my feet and the conversion was complete. 

I think if Denver had won I wouldn't have watched their next series, but now I'm kinda excited to see what the Wolves do.

The Gobert fadeaway, Naz dunk, KAT dunk, dagger 3 by Ant to put them up 10... great team win that started with stifling defense in the 2nd half and had some big moments for a bunch of different Timberwolves players.

They've been doing it all year like this, hopefully they can keep it rolling.

BOOM

Talk about resilient huh?

That is truly one for the history books

Wow, very happy for the Wolves and their fanbase.

RS_Express wrote:
Unbelievable.  Down 58-38 in the 3rd with Ant shooting bricks and go on a 60-32 run on the road vs. the defending champs.  I didn't even find where the game was televised until it was over. I hope TNT does a rerun.  Even a shortened/chopped version of that 2nd half would be amazing to see.

Nice the Wolves now have homecourt for the WCF, but that clearly means nothing this year LOL. Mavs and Pacers both won 2 series without homecourt and the Wolves just went 1-2 at home and 3-1 in Denver.

https://basketball-video.com/

Enjoy!!

MaroonBells wrote:

When the Nuggets were up to 20 I was rooting for the Wolves to make it a good game. But then I couldn't stop! When Conley hit that three to take the lead for good, I was on my feet and the conversion was complete. 

I think if Denver had won I wouldn't have watched their next series, but now I'm kinda excited to see what the Wolves do.

Come feast with the pack, Maroon... 

AAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO

This is going to be a great Western Conference Finals. I guess you can call me a bandwagoneer fan, it would be appropriate and accurate.

Frankly, I think the Nuggets presented more of a challenge than the Mavs will - but I learned through pain to never take anything for granted.

Wolves will ultimately need to get the ownership figured out, but that will take care of itself this summer. Whoever that owner is? Better find a way to keep Connelly:
==================================

It's natural to assume that NBA teams will go as their star goes, but depth, defense and coaching have been as important to the Wolves as Edwards' jump shot.

In Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals on Sunday night in Denver, the Wolves overcame a 20-point deficit to win, 98-90, even though Edwards, Mike Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kyle Anderson shot a combined 9-for-41 from the field.

The Timberwolves are 8-1 this season when Edwards is held to five or fewer points in the first half.

Wolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has built a deep roster that can win in different ways on different nights.

Connelly built the Nuggets team that won the title in 2023.

In 2024, two years after Connelly left, the Nuggets lacked depth and the Wolves proved to have the stronger roster. That may not be a coincidence.

Edwards finished seventh in the MVP voting. Rudy Gobert won Defensive Player of the Year. Naz Reid won Sixth Man of the Year. Chris Finch finished third in Coach of the Year voting.

Virtually every decision Connelly has made with the Wolves has produced the desired result. The same could be said for every decision he didn't make.

He signed Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Karl-Anthony Towns, Alexander-Walker and Conley to contract extensions. Gobert is signed through next season, with a player option for 2025-2026.

The only member of the Wolves' regular eight-man rotation who is not signed long-term is Anderson.

This team was built to win this year, but also to contend for years to come.

Just as notably, Connelly didn't replace Finch, even though many sports executives want to make their mark by hiring their own coach.

He didn't trade Towns, even though such a move would have been popular with the Timberwolves fan base a year ago.

Continuity is vital in the NBA, especially on defense, where connectedness and trust are required. Connelly was patient when the Gobert deal failed to produce immediate results, and now he and the Wolves are reaping rewards.

https://www.startribune.com/timberwolves-minnesota-dallas-mavericks-nba-playoffs-jim-souhan/600367336/

MaroonBells wrote:

When the Nuggets were up to 20 I was rooting for the Wolves to make it a good game. But then I couldn't stop! When Conley hit that three to take the lead for good, I was on my feet and the conversion was complete. 

I think if Denver had won I wouldn't have watched their next series, but now I'm kinda excited to see what the Wolves do.

its like witnessing the birth of a bandwagon jumper.... :P

JimmyinSD wrote:

its like witnessing the birth of a bandwagon jumper.... :P

Or just a new fan. I was never a Nuggets fan. Hell I didn't even know they were in the championship series last year until the city lost it's mind. I'm a life-long Celtics fan and you can bet if it's the Wolves and Celts in the show, I'm going to be rooting for the Celtics. Until then, go Wolves!

StickierBuns wrote:
Tough loss. Need to stay composed.

Wolves need to win one of these at home. They proved they could win on the road in Denver. But it's a lot easier if you don't have to.

tough loss for the franchise and fans.

They'll be a lot to pour-over this off-season and for the player/coaches to reflect on.

The ownership needs to get figured out and they gotta find a way to keep Connelly too.

StickierBuns wrote:
I apologize......I start rooting for a team and it turns to shit. Midas touch.

I'll share the blame... Ultra casual NBA fan and haven't really cared since the Garnett days... And now I care again, then this...

When the Wolves went up by 5 with a minute left I thought they had it. Teams are living and dying by the 3-pointer. Makes me wonder how boring the NBA must've been before it.

They are playing like they accomplished their goal of beating the Nuggets. Not having to face the Thunder in the finals, it's like they thought all they had to do was show up and they would beat Dallas.

Not sure they run this team back next season with them being up against the luxury tax threshold and the ownership power struggle. They need outside shooters and a reliable point guard since Conley isn't getting any younger.