T-Wolves break Warriors all-time record in Game 7 victory over Nuggets originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
A long-standing NBA record held by the Warriors for nearly 50 years has been broken.
The Minnesota Timberwolves Overcame a 15-point halftime deficit in a 98-90 Game 7 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, breaking the previous Game 7 record of 11 held by Golden State, which the Warriors accomplished on two separate occasions. (h/t Justin Kubatko)
The first came on May 14, 1975, when Golden State defeated the Chicago Bulls 83-79 in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals after trailing 47-36 at halftime. Hall of Famer Jamaal Wilkes led all scorers with 23 points and the victory sent the Warriors to the NBA Finals, where Golden State defeated the Washington Bullets to secure the franchise’s first Bay Area championship.
The second instance is much fresher in the minds of Warriors and basketball fans alike, with Golden State erasing a 54-43 halftime deficit in their 101-92 Game 7 victory over the Houston Rockets on May 28, 2018.
With the Warriors’ 2017 title defense on the line, Golden State turned to its star duo of Steph Curry and Kevin Durant with the season on the line. Curry and Durant rose to the occasion, delivering an unforgettable second-half performance to lead the Warriors to their fourth consecutive NBA Finals appearance.
Curry scored 19 points in the second half on 7-of-12 shooting, including five 3-pointers for a long shot with seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Durant scored 21 points in the second half to finish with a game-high 34 points, setting the stage for what would ultimately result in his second straight victory NBA Finals MVP honors.
After the Warriors’ two historic comebacks ended with season-ending championships, can the Timberwolves continue the trend and deliver Minnesota its first NBA title?