Exactly 20 years ago, on his 28th birthday, Kevin Garnett led the Minnesota Timberwolves to their first-ever Western Conference Finals appearance. Now, 20 years later, the Wolves have given the Big Ticket another nostalgic birthday present with a return trip to the conference finals after knocking off the defending Champion Denver Nuggets.
Despite a slow start in the first half, the Wolves' league-leading defense clamped down in the second half to spark an epic Game 7 comeback win. The Wolves turned everything around in the third quarter. After Jamal Murray hit a corner three to push the Denver lead to 20, the Timberwolves put together a 19-3 run, forcing the Nuggets to miss 13 of their last 16 shots to end the third quarter.
Minnesota outscored Denver 60-37 in the second half as the Wolves' momentum took over with every show-stopping play this decorated lineup added to the highlight reel en route to victory.
5. Jaden McDaniels cuts the lead under 10 with a 3-point bucket
Amid the Timberwolves' third-quarter run, Jaden McDaniels made multiple big-time plays, hitting a critical 3-pointer at the 6:38 mark midway through the quarter to bring the Wolves within striking distance.
McDaniels remains one of the most underrated players in the league. But he certainly isn't underappreciated. Just ask his teammates. When Inside the NBA host Ernie Johnson asked Anthony Edwards postgame who was his MVP of this series, his answer was simple: "Jaden McDaniels," said the two-time All-Star.
The Wolves versatile forward has established his reputation on the defensive end, but McDaniel's offensive game has been disrespected for far too long.
With Edwards being doubled for much of this series, it has often left McDaniels with many open looks, which he capitalized on consistently with back-to-back 20-point nights. With performances like this, expect McDaniel's confidence to grow as teams reevaluate leaving him open.