Timberwolves eliminate Nuggets with 110-98 Game 6 win: 'Our guys took it personal'
Chris Finch after Wolves eliminate Nuggets: 'Our guys took it personal'
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch spoke with reporters after Thursday night's 110-98 Game 6 win over the Denver Nuggets to advance in the NBA Playoffs. The Timberwolves are in the Western Conference Semifinals for the third straight season.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - For the third straight season, the Minnesota Timberwolves are headed to the Western Conference Semifinals.
Without Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu and Kyle Anderson, the Timberwolves knocked off the Denver Nuggets 110-98 in Game 6 Thursday night at Target Center. The Timberwolves win the best-of-seven series 4-2, and advance to face the San Antonio Spurs in the semifinals.
Timberwolves locker room reacts after eliminating Nuggets
Timberwolves players Julius Randle and Mike Conley Jr. react from the locker room after a 110-98 Game 6 win over the Nuggets Thursday night at Target Center. The Timberwolves won the series 4-2, and advance to the Western Conference Semfinals.
"Our guys took it personal. Denver had the chance to pick who they wanted to play coming down the stretch, and they chose us. We used that as motivation all the way through preparation and the series," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said after the win. "They chose us, they didn’t have to choose us. They chose us, and our guys were up for the challenge of that."
Timberwolves beat Nuggets 110-98, take series 4-2
The backstory:
Without three double-digit scorers Thursday night, the Timberwolves got contributions up and down the lineup.
How did it happen? The Timberwolves got 32 points, four rebounds and five assists from Jaden McDaniels. Terrence Shannon Jr., with Ayo Dosunmu and Anthony Edwards out injured, scored 24 points and grabbed six rebounds.
Julius Randle had 18 points, four rebounds and five assists. Naz Reid had 15 points off the bench, and Rudy Gobert had 10 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
After 25 turnovers in Game 5, the Timberwolves had just seven Thursday. They also limited Jamal Murray to 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting, and forced 13 turnovers.
"Jaden McDaniels talked all series, and he backed it up all series. That’s called legitimate tough. He not only led us tonight scoring, but Murray was 4-17 and I don’t think he scored on Jaden the whole game," Finch said. "That’s what you want."
Timberwolves show support for Donte DiVincenzo
Timberwolves' players arrived to Target Center before Game 6 Thursday wearing No. 0 jerseys, in honor of Donte DiVincenzo. The guard tore his right Achilles' during Minnesota's Game 4 win over Denver. He's out for the rest of the playoffs, and likely most of next season.
Timberwolves tribute Donte DiVincenzo in eliminating Nuggets
The Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated the Denver Nuggets with a 110-98 win in Game 6 of their NBA Playoff series Thursday night. Jaden McDaniels, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Rudy Gobert spoke to reporters after, wearing No. 0 Donte DiVincenzo jerseys. The whole team wore them arriving to the game. DiVincenzo tore his Achilles during Game 4, and is out for the season.
DiVincenzo appeared at Timberwolves' shootaround Thursday morning after having successful surgery earlier this week. Chris Finch said after the injury DiVincenzo is the "heart and soul of everthing we do."
Timberwolves' players Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert all walked up to the postgame podium wearing their DiVincenzo jerseys.
"It just shows that we all care for each other, that we’re a big family here and we miss Donte going down with that crazy injury. It just shows that we all support each other, it’s a big family," McDaniels said.
"It means everything. He really embodies the spirit of our team. He played 82 games, played through injuries, was getting his teeth knocked out every other game, getting concussions once a week, but he never missed a game. He was competing every night," Gobert said. "This is the mindset we want to embody as a team. I know he’s going to be back stronger."
Fourth quarter - Another skirmish with Nikola Jokic
It's not a Timberwolves/Nuggets playoff game without a skirmish involving Nikola Jokic. In Game 6, it happened in the fourth quarter. Jokic got into it with Jaylen Clark and Naz Reid. It resulted in technical fouls for all three.
At the end of Game 4, Jokic took exception to a basket at the buzzer from Jaden McDaniels. It resulted in a $50,000 fine for Jokic, and a $35,000 fine for Julius Randle intervening.
Timberwolves lead Nuggets 82-74 after 3
With Denver's season on the line in Game 6 Thursday night, the Timberwolves have an 82-74 lead after three quarters. Jaden McDaniels has 20 points, six rebounds and three assists, and Terrence Shannon Jrl. has been the difference so far. He has 18 points, playing with Anthony Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu and Donte DiVincenzo all injured.
Timberwolves lead Nuggets 57-50 at half
Game 6 started as a defensive struggle, and the Nuggets lead the Timberwolves 30-29 after one. The Timberwolves won the second quarter 28-20, and lead the Nuggets 57-50 at half. Jaden McDaniels leads Minnesota with 13 points, while Julius Randle has 12, as does Terrence Shannon Jr., starting in place of both injured Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu.
After committing 25 turnovers in Game 5, the Timberwolves had just four in the first half. They also forced nine Nuggets' turnovers, and Denver shot 46% in the second half.
Timberwolves injury update
What we know:
The Timberwolves are without star Anthony Edwards (left knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (right Achilles) for Game 6. Kyle Anderson, who participated in shootaround Thursday morning, will not play in Game 6 due to illness. Ayo Dosunmu will also miss Thursday's game with right calf injury.
Bones Hyland was added to the injury report with left knee soreness, but is expected to play.
So the Timberwolves will be without Edwards, DiVincenzo, Anderson and Dosunmu for Game 6. Terrence Shannon Jr. will get the start in Dosunmu's place.