Timberwolves Rally To Conference Finals, Pacers Shoot Past Knicks In NBA Playoffs

The Denver Nuggets' quest for a second consecutive NBA championship has ended following a historic comeback by the Minnesota Timberwolves. In Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals, the Timberwolves overturned a 20-point second-half deficit to secure a 98-90 victory on the road. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels each contributed 23 points, while Anthony Edwards added 16 points after a slow start.

This win propels the Timberwolves to the conference finals for the first time since 2004, where they will face the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks. The Timberwolves' comeback from a 15-point halftime deficit marks the largest in Game 7 history in the NBA playoffs. A crucial 15-1 run in the third quarter, highlighted by 3-pointers from McDaniels and Mike Conley, helped close the gap.

Edwards, who struggled initially, hit a pivotal 3-pointer to bring Minnesota within one point entering the fourth quarter. Conley's early fourth-quarter 3-pointer gave the Timberwolves a lead they would not relinquish. Their defense was instrumental, holding the Nuggets to under 36% shooting in the second half. A late 7-0 run, capped by an Edwards' 3-pointer, sealed Minnesota's victory.

For the Nuggets, Jamal Murray led with 35 points, though only 24 came in the first half. League MVP Nikola Jokic delivered an impressive performance with 34 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists, accounting for 14 of Denver's 23 points in the fourth quarter. Despite their efforts, Denver could not overcome Minnesota's comeback and failed to defend their title.

Pacers Advance in Eastern Conference

In the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers advanced to their first conference finals in a decade with a dominant shooting display against the New York Knicks in Game 7. The Pacers shot an NBA playoff-record 67.1% from the floor in a 130-109 victory. Tyrese Haliburton led with 26 points, while Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard each added 20 points.

The Pacers will face the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the next round. The Knicks played without Jalen Brunson in the final quarter due to a fractured left hand. Brunson had been pivotal for New York, averaging 31.8 points and 5.7 assists in the series. Despite Donte DiVincenzo's career-high 39 points, New York couldn't match Indiana's shooting prowess.

Knicks' Season Ends

Indiana shot an impressive 76.2% in the first quarter and maintained a lead throughout the game to end New York's season. With this loss, the Knicks now have the third-longest active drought in the NBA without an appearance in the conference finals, spanning 24 seasons.