The Minnesota Timberwolves, battered by injuries and doubted by many, found their answer in Jaden McDaniels. He delivered 32 points and 10 rebounds, while Terrence Shannon Jr. added 24 in a surprise start, as the Timberwolves closed out the Denver Nuggets 110-98 in Game 6 on Friday to win the series.
Timberwolves Go Big, Nuggets Struggle
With Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, and Ayo Dosunmu sidelined, Minnesota leaned on size and grit. Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid anchored a 64-40 advantage in points in the paint and a 50-33 edge on the boards. Gobert finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, summing it up simply: “This is what you don’t really teach. This is about will. It’s about heart.”
Nikola Jokic did his best with 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists, but Jamal Murray never found a rhythm against McDaniels’ relentless defense, shooting just 4-for-17 for 12 points. Cameron Johnson hit 27 and Denver managed 10-for-27 from deep, but the Nuggets lacked answers against Minnesota’s energy.
McDaniels Embraces the Moment
McDaniels was everywhere—scoring, rebounding, defending, and even intercepting Jokic’s late pass to seal the win. “I’m just happy it’s over, happy we were able to come out on top,” he said. “Stuff was said. I’m just happy we were all able to prove our point, get the win, and move on to the next round.”
Shannon’s speed gave Denver fits, and his three-point play with 1:43 left pushed the Timberwolves ahead by six. McDaniels followed with his signature mid-range pull-up from 19 feet, then capped the night with that steal to ignite a parade to the line.
Rivalry and Resolve
This series carried extra spice. McDaniels had jabbed the Nuggets earlier with his “bad defenders” remark, and Minnesota’s motivation soared when DiVincenzo went down in Game 4 and Edwards joined him on the injured list. Even from the bench, DiVincenzo smiled with his foot in a cast, watching his teammates fight through adversity.
Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, kept Jokic uncomfortable in the paint with his length and anticipation, while McDaniels chased Murray around the perimeter. Together, they embodied the Timberwolves’ defensive identity.
What’s Next
Minnesota, the No. 6 seed, advances to face the San Antonio Spurs in the second round starting Tuesday. Denver, once the 2023 champions, again fell short of finding the support Jokic needs. For the Timberwolves, this was about more than survival—it was about proving they could win shorthanded, with heart and hustle carrying them through.
