That led to Denver head coach, Mike Malone, giving some early thoughts on the Wolves, as a matchup, that sent shockwaves through the NBA. He knew his Nuggets were in trouble. Of course, the defending champs fought back valiantly, rattled off three-straight wins and forced the Wolves to do their own soul searching.

Nikola Jokic talks about how good Minnesota Timberwolves are

But when the dust settled on Game 7, it was Minnesota moving on. Why? Because the Wolves were the better, deeper team; something Anthony Edwards talked about entering game 6, with the Timberwolves down 3-2. After game 7, it was league MVP Nikola Jokic’s turn to call out the talent and depth of this dynamic, hard-working Timberwolves roster.

The Joker gives his respect to the Timberwolves and discusses if they are a potential rival of the Nuggets pic.twitter.com/u6lboY1YPr

— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 20, 2024

“I think they’re built to beat us in some ways. Just look at their roster. Basically they have two all-stars, two defensive players of the year, and Mike Conley who is probably the most underrated player in the NBA. I love the guy, he is so good. He always makes the right play. He didn’t shoot it well this game, but at one moment he was the leading rebounder in the game for them. From the bench they have the sixth man of the year, and Kyle, and Alexander-Walker who was really good for them. It’s a team that can do a little of everything. They can play big and small.”

Nikola Jokic talks about how good the Minnesota Timberwolves are after game 7

Facing a very good Denver Nuggets team, led by Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, head coach Chris Finch knew he would need much more than Anthony Edwards’ rising superstar to advance to the Western Conference Finals.

Finchy knew that, not only would Anthony Edwards need to have his ‘here I am’ moments, as would Karl Anthony Towns (which he did, especially in games six and seven), but that the rest of the team would have to be head and shoulders better than the rotational depth for Denver.

How much better was the Minnesota Timberwolves depth vs Denver Nuggets

During Game 7, we saw all of that come together in a way nobody really expected. We learned just how important KAT is to this team, when he carried them during moments where Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards were struggling with confidence.

Related: Comparing Ant’s Playoff Resume to MJ, LeBron and Kobe

But look beyond Towns. Minnesota had six players in double-figures on Sunday. Jaden McDaniels went 7-for-10 for 23 huge points and Naz Reid woke up just in time, providing 7 of his 11 points at the very end of the fourth quarter, when the Wolves needed him most.

A GAME 7 FEAST. 🍽️

Jaden – 23 PTS / 6 REB / 2 STL
KAT – 23 PTS / 12 REB / 2 STL
Ant – 16 PTS / 8 REB / 7 AST / 2 STL
Rudy – 13 PTS / 9 REB / 2 BLK
Naz – 11 PTS / 2 BLK
Mike – 10 PTS / 8 REB pic.twitter.com/HyoOA7m2cN

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 20, 2024

Meanwhile, Murray and Jokic combined for 69 points, but no other Nuggets players scored more than 7 points. In total, Denver players not named Murray or Jokic combined for 21 total points. Having such a deep rotation of talented stars, it certainly wasn’t lost on Jokic just how tough the Timberwolves are to shut down.

Getting that sort of praise heaped onto a team by such a talented player is beyond eye-opening. Then again, the same man that helped construct Denver’s title-contending team is now in charge of the Timberwolves. There is a reason that Minnesota doesn’t want to lose Tim Connelly, and watching him build this sort of a roster is something that fans have been dreaming of for decades.

Related: Karl-Anthony Towns Rose Up When Timberwolves Needed Him Most

The job isn’t done for the Timberwolves though, and they certainly aren’t out to celebrate reaching the conference finals. With an impending date against a Dallas Mavericks team that they went 3-1 against this year, Minnesota is favored in the match up and have sights set on matching up against the best in the Eastern Conference.

The greatness of the Timberwolves roster will continue to be tested when they take the court on Wednesday night. Needing eight more wins before planning a parade, Anthony Edwards, Karl Anthony Towns, and every other player in the rotation will need to continue bringing their best on a nightly basis.

Despite getting down 9-2 early in the contest, Anthony Edwards, Karl Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert were unphased. Chris Finch’s squad went on a massive run and found themselves ending the first quarter up by 17 points.

Minnesota Timberwolves defense suffocates Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic

After being utterly dominated by Nikola Jokic in Game 5, Rudy Gobert and the Minnesota Timberwolves needed to bring back their stifling defense if they were going to give the Target Center faithful a victory. Karl Anthony Towns was back on the Nuggets big man early in the game, and his composure allowed Gobert to play more of a rover underneath.

Feels like this will be the possession Finch puts on film tomorrow of “how we want to guard Jokic” pic.twitter.com/GKnXkl1A8p

— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) May 17, 2024

On the perimeter Nickeil Alexander Walker and Jaden McDaniels kept the Denver guards at bay, and Mike Malone’s squad never looked like it could get in rhythm. Jokic is always going to get his, and with 22 points just into the 4th quarter, he certainly made an impact on the stat sheet. However, he needed 19 shots to get there, and was held to an 0-for-4 mark from deep.

As was the case when he threw a heating pack onto the court earlier in the series, the Minnesota Timberwolves defense had Jamal Murray frustrated and searching for answers. As the 4th quarter wore down, Denver’s point guard was 4-for-18 from the field and had just ten points to his credit.

NAW just deleting space between himself and Murray.

Jamal Murray is currently 1/10 from the field. https://t.co/m3UKqdMGii pic.twitter.com/sYaaDuPPkx

— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) May 17, 2024

Mike Malone opted to stay with his starters hoping for a run to happen, but nothing ever materialized. Both Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell were held below double digits for the vast majority of the game, and with just over eight minutes left in the contest, the Nuggets bench had scored just two points on 1-for-14 shooting.

Anthony Edwards called game and delivered

Of course if Micah Nori and the Timberwolves were going to see this series produce a Game 7, it was going to come on the heels of a big Anthony Edwards performance. Checking out at the 8:33 mark in the 4th quarter, he had put up 27 points on 8-of-17 shooting, and acted as a key difference maker all night long.

Despite taking a hard fall after being checked by Porter Jr. in the 3rd quarter, he quickly returned to the floor and continued to pour in big buckets. As he took a spot on the bench during the 4th quarter for a well-deserved rest, the Minnesota Timberwolves had a 36-point lead and Edwards signaled “7” to the crowd as the game he suggested would come was now turning into prophecy.

Anthony Edwards is ready for Game 7. 🔥

pic.twitter.com/jALRtmDjEQ

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 17, 2024

Related: Timberwolves Draw Jamal Murray’s Favorite Referee for Game 6 vs Nuggets

Sunday’s matchup back in Denver will be for all the marbles, and if the Minnesota Timberwolves come out even close to the way they looked on Thursday night, they will be tough to beat. The Nuggets will want to get this taste out of their mouth, and the defending champions won’t go down easily.

We’re going to have a good one in front of us.

Then dropping both games at home, it’s now a best of three series begging someone to defend home court. In their Game 2 matchup against the Denver Nuggets, Chris Finch and Micah Nori had the Minnesota Timberwolves ready to go despite being without Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.

The new father wasn’t able to make a plane to Denver, and Minnesota found themselves shorthanded. Executing on keys to victory in that contest, the Timberwolves trailed by just two while building a lead that ultimately reached 32 points.

WHAT A SEQUENCE. WHAT A SHOT. THAT'S JUST JAMAL MURRAY. pic.twitter.com/9urX9myNt8

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 13, 2024

The game plan didn’t work so well in either Game 3 or Game 4, and Minnesota will need to spend time figuring out where it went wrong. If they want to replicate that excellence in Game 5, here are four keys to a Timberwolves victory.

Make Nikola Jokic Run

In the first game of the series it was apparent that Nikola Jokic wasn’t ready for the battle of athleticism that he was in for. Minnesota decided to put the smaller Karl-Anthony Towns on the reigning MVP, and what he lacked in size, he made up for in athleticism.

Related: Nikola Jokic Already Sounds Exhausted by Timberwolves’ Defense, Depth

Certainly it helped to have Rudy Gobert protecting the rim on the back side, but Jokic was running ragged all game long. As long as KAT can continue to avoid foul trouble, he presents a matchup nightmare for Jokic.

Making him move around the court and forcing him to be constantly engaged from an athleticism standpoint, the size advantage works against the Nuggets big and right into the Timberwolves hands. While Jokic is certainly going to get his on a game-by-game basis, mitigating his excellence is something that Minnesota can focus on.

Frustrate Jamal Murray

Defense has been a calling card for Minnesota all season long. As the best defensive team in the NBA, it isn’t just one player getting the job done. Yes, Gobert is the big name in the paint, but Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have been stifling on guards. Anthony Edwards has locked in and no position is given the freedom to dribble.

The Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was clearly flustered during Game 2 when he hurled a heating pack onto the court. Somehow that choice wasn’t handed a suspension. Taking away opportunities for him to operate freely will reflect in the box score and on the court.

Both Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaden McDaniels struggled in the two home tilts for Minnesota, and the former was the one frustrated. Those tables have to turn.

Today's show: Getting Ready For Game 3, Live at Falling Knife w/ @AROD, @brittrobson and @KyleTheige

Big thanks to everyone who came out.

YouTube: https://t.co/IOHCwQXOOC
Spotify: https://t.co/gsZ2XRxUte
iTunes: https://t.co/XYdDbzamyb pic.twitter.com/ZUDaoELmRm

— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) May 10, 2024

Related: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Explains His Technical

Minnesota Timberwolves need a second scorer

As he has much of the season, Edwards has been the draw to stir the Timberwolves drink. Executing on their keys to victory will again include him getting his. After 43 in Game 1, he followed by matching Karl Anthony Towns with 27 in Game 2. Pouring in a ridiculous 44 during Game 4, it was literally Edwards and no one else.

Related: Anthony Edwards’ Kicks Are Living in the Limelight

We haven’t seen McDaniels or Conley show up substantially yet in the box score, and Gobert has only played in three of the four games. This series could have been about Towns figuring out a way to show he’s ready for the big stage, but he has wilted under pressure more often than not, and in the most significant way during Game 4.

Cause Frustration but Avoid It

It’s clear that the Nuggets weren’t expecting to be in this position, and Murray’s antics during Game 2 suggest they are susceptible to cracking. As tensions run high, especially if the Timberwolves can execute on their keys to victory and push a lead early in Game 5, they’ll need to carry their composure.

The goal should be to frustrate the Nuggets into poor possessions and turnovers. Ideally that would translate into long runs for Minnesota. No matter what the case ends up being, Finch and Nori have to keep their squad dialed in and not allow emotion to take hold of the moment. Minnesota is in position to do something special, and remaining focused on that goal is a must.

An injured Jamal Murray, who the Nuggets need to be their 2nd best player, scored zero points in the first half, 17 total in the game and finished a -22 in the game. Michael Porter Jr, who killed the Timberwolves all season, was a problem (20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) … but not the type of problem that was going to ruin the evening for Minnesota.

Minnesota Timberwolves are a problem for Nikola Jokic

Then, there’s Nikola Jokic, who makes the the Denver Nuggets’ boat float. He’s arguably the best basketball player in the world and nearly impossible to stop. In game one, The Joker put up 32 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists.

But, there’s no doubt the Timberwolves present a unique challenge for Jokic and the Nuggets, which showed throughout the contest last night. Much like the rest of the NBA, Denver lacks front-court size and depth, beyond their MVP; a problem the Wolves do not have.

Karl-Anthony Towns low-man help to force the turnover, great team defense pic.twitter.com/H6piY2LZQ9

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 4, 2024

Rudy Gobert block pic.twitter.com/QpeoQLVOGt

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 4, 2024

Related: Anthony Edwards is HIM but the Timberwolves are So Much More Than HIM

"Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid, those three guys sped The Joker up for the first time that I've ever seen in basketball." 👏

Kenny & Dirk had high praise for the Timberwolves defense pic.twitter.com/4KpHlXyfnI

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 5, 2024

Throw in all of the rapport and locker room chemistry that Minnesota seems to have built, since Mike Conley replaced D’Angelo Russell at the point guard position last season, at the trade deadline. And suddenly, it appears to be the Wolves who provide quite an uphill climb for the defending champs, not the other way around.

After game one, Joker took to the postgame interview table and spoke with reporters about how much of a challenge the Timberwolves pose. The clip that is making its rounds centers around his appreciation for Anthony Edwards. But the longer version shows more of an admiration for how the Wolves are built, as a whole.

Jokic already exhausted by Timberwolves defense and depth?

At one point, Jokic is asked how the Nuggets are supposed to overcome all the difficulties Minnesota represents, from a defense and size standpoint. To that, Jokic hesitated and admitted that they might need a clone machine to realistically have a chance. The full quote, though (below) is even better.

Nikola Jokic was asked how he can be impactful against the Wolves' three bigs in Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid and after thinking for a good five seconds he answered: "To have a duplicate clone of myself"

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 5, 2024

Reporter: “What’s the adjustment that you can make to them rotating Rudy Gobert, [Karl-Anthony Towns], and [Naz Reid] on you?”

Nikola Jokic: “To have a duplicate clone of myself.” 😅pic.twitter.com/OWQIVcwDFh

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 5, 2024

Reporter: “What’s the adjustment that you can make to Rudy Gobert’s length; not only that, them just rotating three fresh bigs [Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid] on you for most of the game? on you?”

Jokic: | LONG PAUSE | “Umm… to have a duplicate clone of myself…? And then I can, you know, I can be fresh when they sub another guy I’m gonna be fresh.. I don’t know, my friend, I think that’s why they’re good. They can play big, they can play small, they can put a lot of guys on a lot of guys. They are long, they are physical, they rebound really well, they’re aggressive. I mean, I’m satisfied with the shots that I took. Some of them I missed, some of them I made. It’s a tough game and they are a really good defensive team.”

Obviously, the Denver Nuggets are not going to bow out of this series. They will fight tooth and nail until the very end. But Jokic clearly knows what we all know. That over the course of a seven game series, it is going to be very difficult for a beaten up, depth deprived Nuggets team to hang with the Wolves, especially the way they are able to guard The Joker.

Related: Timberwolves Ownership War Rages On After Unproductive Mediation Session

He almost sounds defeated, which is kind of crazy, given this is only game one. But it’s like he is already planning for how the Nuggets will have to tweak their roster in the offseason, in order to manage Minnesota’s size and depth.

Again, I’m not calling this series over. I’m just calling last night’s game and the reactions afterwards as I saw them.

The Denver Post asked NBA big men around the league three basic questions, in an effort to find out who what they thought of Nikola Jokic and the MVP race between him and Embiid. No anonymity allowed.

1. Who’s the tougher player to guard, Jokic or Embiid?
2. What makes Nikola Jokic so tough to stop?
3. Who’s the MVP?

KAT’s Real MVP

The front court players surveyed included Rudy Gobert, Wendell Carter Jr, Draymond Green, Domantas Sabonis and Karl-Anthony Towns, among others.

But it was KAT’s answer to question 3, which asked about the NBA’s MVP race, that I found interesting. If he were choosing the league’s most valuable player, neither Jokic or Embiid would be the winner. Instead, Towns said he would the award to himself.

“I’m gonna give it to myself because that’s who I feel is the MVP.”

KAT on his choice for NBA MVP (Denver Post)

The Numbers Say…

It doesn’t take that much research before you realize that Karl-Anthony Towns is wrong. The stats just don’t agree with his assertion, no matter where you look. And the deeper you go, it becomes easier and easier to hand the MVP Award to Nikola Jokic.

Of all the major statistical category, Karl-Anthony Towns beats Jokic and Embiid in just one, defensive rating. When it comes to points, rebounds, assists, offensive rating, win shares, usage, etc., one of the other two big men (often both) are better than KAT.

Still Love KAT’s Answer

But who gives a fuck what the numbers say. Or what other players, coaches, media or I say. Karl-Anthony Towns should believe he is the Most Valuable Player. This isn’t David vs Goliath. KAT absolutely belongs in the conversation as the NBA’s best big man, especially now that the Minnesota Timberwolves are winning games.

And he is just as important to his team as anybody else in the league is to theirs. If Karl is going to reach his full ceiling of potential, he will need the type of confidence he displayed in his “who’s the MVP” answer. Because if KAT doesn’t believe he’s the best big man in the NBA then he never will be.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan