MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Timberwolves were the surprise success of the NBA playoffs, winning their first six games behind a dominant defense, clutch performances from superstar Anthony Edwards and enviable depth to fuel a relentless approach.
They did the hard part by winning the first two games of the Western Conference semifinal series in Denver from the defending champion Nuggets in dominant fashion. Now they can take the court in front of their own fans. Game 3 will be on Friday night, a late game that will only intensify the atmosphere inside the success-starved arena.
“The fans have been great all year,” Karl-Anthony Towns said after Thursday’s practice. “I’ve said it before: They make this place jump like Prince is back.”
After completing their first-round victory over Phoenix with two road wins, the Timberwolves have not played at Target Center since April 23, a 17-day gap between home games. The team partnered with 11 downtown bars to host watch parties. Ticket prices on the secondary market started in the $250 range for individual seats near the rafters on Thursday afternoon.
Pretty much all the buzz you’d expect surrounding a franchise that not only has never won an NBA title, but has also advanced past the first round just once in the previous 34 seasons.
“The city is on fire. People are super excited about this team,” said coach Chris Finch. “It’s an easy team to support because of the way they play. They play hard. They share the ball. I think we have a lot of good guys who play with a lot of personality.”
In the history of the NBA playoffs, including the Nuggets, 30 teams have lost the first two home games in a best-of-seven series, according to research from Sportradar. Only five of them have won again, with the Los Angeles Clippers being the most recent in a 2021 first-round rally against Dallas.
The Nuggets are confident they can be sixth. But they will have to find a way to start fast, minimize crowd noise and avoid the uncharacteristic frustration they suffered during their 106-80 loss in Game 2. Point guard Jamal Murray, who has just 25 points in the series at 9-per shooting at the age of 32, was fined US$100,000 for throwing a thermal bag on the court.
“Even if we lose the first quarter,” Murray said, “I think just the intention, the energy, the focus to get this done is great.”
The New York Knicks won’t be as desperate when they take the field in Indianapolis for Game 3 in the early evening. They have a 2-0 lead over the Pacers, who, if they weren’t as confused in Game 2 as the Nuggets were at home, also carry some discouragement. Coach Rick Carlisle expressed his displeasure with the officiating following the 130-121 loss in New York.
“They crushed us on the boards again,” guard TJ McConnell said, “and they brought more energy than we did, so we have to fix that.”
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KNICKS IN PACERS
New York leads 2-0. Game 3, 7 p.m. EDT, ESPN
– NEED TO KNOW: Carlisle doesn’t complain much about the officiating, but after two physical games in New York, he felt his team was shortchanged and publicly criticized the referees. The Pacers backed him by sending 78 plays to the league office for review, and now all eyes will be on the foul total when the series moves to Indiana’s home court.
– KEEP AN EYE ON: Recovery. Even before this Eastern Conference semifinal series began, Carlisle repeatedly said his team needed to match New York’s toughness around the rim. But in the second halves of the first two games, the Pacers often failed to finish on defense because they couldn’t come up with key rebounds. The Knicks have an 84-66 advantage on the glass in the series.
– INJURY WATCH: Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, who missed the final 15 minutes of the first half of Game 2 with a right foot injury, returned for the second half to play despite discomfort. He is listed as questionable. The Knicks ruled out forward OG Anunoby with a left hamstring injury, thinning a rotation that was already shortened by the absence of Julius Randle, Bojan Bogdanovic and Mitchell Robinson. The Pacers have All-Star Tyrese Haliburton listed as questionable with lower back spasms.
– THE PRESSURE IS ON: Carlisle. The Pacers’ first-round triumph over Milwaukee required victories in all three home games and gave Carlisle a playoff series victory for the first time since leading the Mavericks to the 2011 NBA championship.
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NUGGETS IN TIMBERWOLVES
Minnesota leads 2-0. Game 3, 9:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN
– NEED TO KNOW: After recording the franchise’s first four-game series in the first round against the Suns, the Timberwolves are halfway to another. They will also welcome back four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert after missing Game 2 for the birth of his son.
– KEEP AN EYE ON: Edwards and Towns. The All-Star duo has five playoff games with 25+ points each, a franchise record.
– INJURY WATCH: Murray is playing with a strained left calf. He is listed as questionable for Game 3 for the Nuggets, along with guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right abdominal contusion) and backup Reggie Jackson (left calf contusion).
– THE PRESSURE IS ON: Nikola Jokic. The announcement of his third NBA MVP award came at an odd time, with the Nuggets recovering from their Game 2 collapse. The Serbian star had just 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting in Game 2.
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AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney in New York and AP Sports Writers Michael Marot in Indianapolis and Arnie Stapleton in Denver contributed.
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AP NBA:
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