Anthony Edwards heard all the noise in the past three games and brought life and relief to himself and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Game 7 back in Denver it is.
Edwards made sure of it.
The 22-year-old superstar scored 27 points as the Timberwolves rode a rampaging scoring run in the opening frame en route to a 115-70 Game 6 domination over the reigning champion Nuggets. Minnesta forces a decisive Game 7 in their Western Conference semifinals series.
Ant Edwards scores 27 as the @Timberwolves dominate at home to force Game 7 Sunday in Denver ?? #NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/TxpQokkKoQ
— NBA (@NBA) May 17, 2024
With their season on the line, Edwards got going early and scored 19 points in the first half for Minnesota, who were outscored 9-2 in the first three minutes of the game. The Timberwolves delivered a scorching 27-2 counter for a 29-11 lead and never looked back.
Ant drills the 3 to give Minnesota a 27-2 run!
— NBA (@NBA) May 17, 2024
What a flurry from the Wolves on ESPN 🤯 pic.twitter.com/k5hSXA3xTX
Edwards even matched the Nuggets' first-quarter output with 14, as the Timberwolves finally won at home after losing the first two by a combined 35 points in Games 3 and 4.
THIS ANT HESI & SLAM 😱
— NBA (@NBA) May 17, 2024
Game 6 on ESPN pic.twitter.com/dqijBdK013
The Timberwolves held a comfortable 86-61 lead after three and they won’t stop from there.
Minnesota then proceeded to outscore Denver, 29-9, in the final frame and earned their largest playoff victory in franchise history, surpassing their 28-point opening round win over the LA Lakers in the 2003 playoffs.
LET IT FLY, LUKA. 🦚 pic.twitter.com/Nzz732YxAh
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 17, 2024
Jaden McDaniels added 21 points while the Minnesota big men trio of Karl Anthony-Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Sixth Man of the Year winner Naz Reid combined for 33 points and 38 rebounds.
Mike Conley returned after missing the previous game with 13 points, four rebounds, and five assists built on three triples for a much-needed boost.
After allowing the Nuggets to score 112+ points in the last three games, the Timberwolves came up with a stifling defensive effort, limiting the reigning champs to a series-low 70 points.
Minnesota will be competing in their first Game 7 in a playoff series since the 2004 West Finals against the Lakers.
On the other hand, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic led the way for the Nuggets with 22 points as Denver will compete in their first Game 7 since 2020.
Jamal Murray, who averaged 22 points in his last two games in Minnesota, was limited to eight points on a measly 3-of-15 shooting.
After that opening Timberwolves’ spurt, the Nuggets simply could not recover and found themselves trailing by as much as 50 points. They struggled beyond the arc, going just 7-of-36, and committed 12 turnovers in a blowout loss.
Game 7 will be back in Denver on May 20, Monday (PH time).
