In a stunning turn of events, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets 110-98 in Game 6 of the NBA playoffs on May 4, 2026. This victory allowed them to advance to the Western Conference semifinals, even while missing key players due to injuries.
Jaden McDaniels emerged as the star of the night, scoring an impressive 32 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. His performance was critical, especially given that the Timberwolves were without their starting backcourt, including Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Chris Finch, the Timberwolves’ coach, noted that his team took the Nuggets’ choice to face them personally, and it paid off.
Key statistics from the game:
- The Timberwolves outscored the Nuggets in the paint 64-40.
- Rudy Gobert contributed significantly with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists.
- Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 24 points in his first career playoff start.
The backdrop of this game was filled with tension. The Timberwolves became the first team in NBA playoff history to win a game while missing three players averaging over 10 points in a series. Meanwhile, the Nuggets were also dealing with their own roster challenges, missing Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson.
Nikola Jokić expressed disappointment after their early exit from the playoffs, stating that they are ‘far away’ from title contention. This loss raises questions about the future of Denver’s roster and what changes might be necessary moving forward.
As for Minnesota, they now look ahead to facing the San Antonio Spurs in the next round of playoffs. With their recent performance against a strong opponent like Denver—especially under challenging circumstances—what can we expect from them moving forward?