T-Wolves Mangle Denver 115-70, Force Game Seven in West Semis
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 17 May 2024
The semifinals series for one of the two slots in the Western Conference Finals will go the full seven-game route.
This after the Minnesota Timberwolves mangled the Denver Nuggets, 115-70 to tie their series, 3-3 at the Target Center Arena in Minneapolis.
One day after being outplayed in game 5 in mile high Denver, the Timberwolves fielded their other tall big men in combination with the Twin Tower of Rudy Gobert and Carl Anthony Towns which seemed to give the Nuggets the feeling of being in the midst of Minnesota's many towering pine crested forests.
Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson and even seldom used Luca Garza, all standing 6-9 or over alternately were fielded by coach Chris Finch in support of the Twin Towers creating a lot of mismatch situations.
Worse, Anthony Edwards and Mike Conley played like feisty wild dogs on both ends of the court which further discombobulated the Nuggets.
Worst, the Nuggets themselves seemed to lose the energy and the will to fight. This was very evident when they could only come up with a measly nine points in the fourth quarter after scoring a low 14 points in the opening quarter.
Nikola Jokic characterized the Nuggets anemic showing by putting a statline of just 22 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists, a far cry from the triple double he put up the other night, the night he was presented his third straight season's MVP award by Adam Silver.
The strategy and adjustments used by Finch obviously worked as McDaniels was double figure in scoring while Towns and Reid were double double in points and rebounds.
Edwards topped in scoring with 27 points followed by McDaniels with 21 points. Conley had 13 points and Towns and Reid contributed 10 points each. Gobert scored 8 points but grabbed a game high 14 boards.
Aside from Jokic, only Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray managed to score in double figure with 12 points and 10 points respectively. Michael Porter could only come up with 8 points.
The seventh and deciding game will be played in Denver this Sunday (Saturday PH time).
Dallas Mavericks will try to win the other Finals slot in the West tomorrow in their game 6 in Dallas against the back against the wall top seed Oklahoma City Thunder who trailed behind 2-3.
Let us hope Denver coach Mike Malone could come up with something to counteract Minnesota's strategy.
Or else, bye bye NBA crown.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Pacquiao Shines in Final Press Conference: Can The Pacman Defeat Father Time and Barrios? (Analysis & Prediction)
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 17 Jul 2025More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
By Leo Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 2025AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
Thu, 17 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS CONGRATULATES SUBRIEL MATIAS ON BECOMING THE WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Thu, 17 Jul 2025Gaisano Grand Cup Season 20 opens August 3
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 20253 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Shane Mosley Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
Thu, 17 Jul 2025HALL OF FAMER MANNY PACQUIAO SET TO CHASE HISTORY YET AGAIN THIS SATURDAY NIGHT IN WORLD TITLE FIGHT AGAINST MARIO BARRIOS
Wed, 16 Jul 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: New York, a Special Place for Boxing
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua talking for a possible fight?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Philippines Rolls Past Pacific Oceania in Davis Cup Group IV Opener as Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors Set the Pace
Wed, 16 Jul 2025QUOTES FROM TONY HARRISON’S OPEN MEDIA WORKOUT TODAY IN DETROIT
Wed, 16 Jul 20253-Time World Champion Miyo Yoshida is tired of playing Boxing’s dreaded waiting game
Wed, 16 Jul 2025RP Blu Girls Dominate India to Strengthen Asia Cup Campaign
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 16 Jul 2025