MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 30: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates during the game against the Denver Nuggets during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ((Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images))
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.
"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 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."
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 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.
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 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.