The Minnesota Timberwolves were in deep trouble in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the reigning champions Denver Nuggets. With Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley unable to hit their shots, the Timberwolves trailed by 15 at halftime, a deficit that ballooned to 20 early in the third quarter.
Despite the daunting 20-point deficit early in the third quarter, the Minnesota Timberwolves refused to succumb to panic. Instead, they showcased their resilience, relying on the contributions of their role players to gradually chip away at the Denver Nuggets' lead. By the end of the third, they had narrowed the gap to a single point. This momentum carried them through, culminating in a 98-90 victory and a spot in the Western Conference Finals.
The victory impressed Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green , who lauded the Timberwolves' collective effort to overcome the savvy Nuggets.
Embracing the team concept
Make no mistake: Minnesota is a talented squad with four All-Stars on its roster. But despite having immense star power led by Ant, Karl-Anthony Towns, Conley, and Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, the Timberwolves have struggled to succeed in recent years. However, this season, they have fostered a strong sense of unity and trust, relying on each player to contribute in their own unique way.
This was evident in their comeback win against the Nuggets. Despite Ant's struggles and KAT's foul trouble, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and the "Stifle Tower" played pivotal roles in turning the tide in their favor. McDaniels, with his 23 points, six rebounds, and two steals, and Reid, with his 11 points and two blocks off the bench, proved critical in the team's victory.
"Rudy Gobert came in to play big basketball. Karl-Anthony Towns stepped up to that challenge, taking it on, and stepping up for Anthony Edwards. Jaden McDaniels stepped up, Naz Reid stepped up—it's the ultimate team thing," the many-time All-Star shared on "The Draymond Green Show."
After many years of falling short, whether in the regular season or the playoffs, Dray feels the Timberwolves are finally learning how to win at this time of the year, and he couldn't help but express his joy at this development.
"I think it's absolutely beautiful to see, and it feels like they are taking those necessary steps forward," Golden State's defensive dynamo added.
Edwards trusted his teammates
Ant-Man may be the darling of the NBA these days but as Game 7 showed, he's still human. The former first-overall pick struggled to make shots, going 6-for-24 from the field, prompting him to describe his performance as "trash." Acknowledging that Sunday night wasn't going his way, Ant still found a way to contribute, playing leech-like defense on Nuggets ace Jamal Murray in the second half and finding his teammates for open shots , racking up a team-high seven assists for the night.
"It was tough because I couldn't find myself or my rhythm tonight," Edwards said. "So I just had to trust my teammates... I just had to make the right plays throughout the rest of the game. I did that, and my teammates made shots. Big shout-out to those guys."
As Minnesota and Dallas tangle in Game 1 of the WCF on Wednesday, a lot of defensive attention will be on Ant. However, Timberwolves fans can rest assured that the 22-year-old and the team have already shown the mental fortitude and unselfishness to navigate through tough situations and come out on top.
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