Led by Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves leveled the series and kept their season alive on Thursday night during Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets. They delivered what could be considered their most outstanding performance of the postseason, securing a commanding 115-70 victory.
Thursday's 45-point triumph marked the largest margin of victory against a defending champion in NBA playoff history. Anthony Edwards and his teammates rose to the occasion, staving off elimination in front of an exuberant home crowd that remained fervently supportive throughout the night.
Following the win, "Ant-Man"'s baby momma, Jeanine Robel, and Alex Rodriguez were seen on Jeanine's Instagram story celebrating the win with the caption:
"Wolves in 7"
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Edwards spearheaded the scoring effort, amassing 27 points and an impressive +43 rating in 34 minutes of play. Meanwhile, Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid dominated the boards, securing a combined total of 38 rebounds.
With the series tied at 3-3, Game 7 will shift back to the Ball Arena in Denver, where Minnesota will aim to secure a spot in the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2004.
Anthony Edwards shows his leadership in historic win
From the outset, the Wolves exhibited energy but encountered offensive obstacles, misfiring on four of their first five attempts. Denver capitalized, surging to a 9-2 lead within the first three minutes.
However, following a strategic timeout, the Wolves promptly regathered. Employing stout defense, they applied double teams on Nikola Jokic, disrupting his playmaking, while his teammates grappled to find their footing. Notably, Jamal Murray struggled, failing to connect his first five shots.
On the bench, Anthony Edwards emerged as a vocal leader, addressing his teammates and showcasing his burgeoning leadership:
"This is what I was talking about the other day: We get a lead and get comfortable. Keep your foot on the gas."
Denver sought to shake things up with a lineup adjustment at the beginning of the second quarter.
Traditionally, league MVP Nikola Jokić takes rest by starting on the bench for the second and fourth quarters. However, in this instance, he remained on the court as play resumed. The decision yielded immediate results, as Denver trimmed a 17-point deficit at the start of the quarter to 11, but Minnesota held on for a blowout win.
In Denver, the Timberwolves are poised to face a hostile crowd and a team boasting superior playoff experience, in a series characterized by dramatic shifts in fortunes.
While the Timberwolves undoubtedly will look to build on their commanding 45-point victory over the Nuggets, they're well aware that the significance of their Game 6 performance will diminish once the next game begins.
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