3. First-ever Timberwolves playoff series win
The Timberwolves had existed as a franchise for 15 years before winning a playoff series.
But entering the 2004 NBA Playoffs, the Wolves were the No. 1 seed after winning 58 games in the regular season and earning a first-round matchup against the eighth-seeded Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets were led by 19-year-old rookie Carmelo Anthony and veterans Andre Miller and Marcus Camby. They had won 43 regular season games prior to the kickoff of postseason play.
Anthony vs. Latrell Sprewell was a matchup to watch, as was Miller vs. Sam Cassell. But the aging Camby and 21-year-old Nene weren’t going to be a fair match for the perennial All-Star and that year’s league MVP.
The Wolves hosted Games 1 and 2 and dominated both, winning each contest by 14 points. The series moved to Denver where the Nuggets emerged from Game 3 victorious, but the Wolves eked out an 84-82 win in the Mile High City in Game 4 before returning home to finish things off in Game 5.
Garnett led both teams in per-game averages over the five contests in points (25.8), rebounds (14.8), assists (7.0), blocks (2.0) and was head-and-shoulders the best player on the floor regardless of what jersey they were wearing.
There weren’t any Game 5 highlights available online, so here’s a full look at Game 4, which the Wolves also won.
Garnett’s leadership and fantastic play on both ends of the court were to thank for the relative ease with which the Wolves were able to win the series.
The Timberwolves went on to play against the Sacramento Kings in the second round. More on that shortly…