By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Timberwolves returned from a 20-point second-half deficit to eliminate the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets 98-90 in a Game 7 to remember.
The Wolves, who got 23 points each from Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels, advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time in 20 years. They’ll face Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks.
French big man Rudy Gobert gave the Wolves their first lead since the first quarter with a bucket to start the fourth and when Towns picked up his fifth foul, Naz Reid, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, made crucial plays on both ends of the floor.
Gobert finished the game with 13 points, including a crucial rainbow shot over Jokic, nine rebounds, and two blocks.
RAINBOW RUDY GOBERT pic.twitter.com/HfiIbStHX4
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The Nuggets became the fifth consecutive defending champion to fail to reach the conference finals. Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic had 34 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists.
In New York, Tyrese Haliburton scored 26 points and the Pacers set an NBA playoff record by shooting 67.1% from the field, beating the New York Knicks 130-109 to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 10 years, where they will face the Celtics.
Jalen Brunson left in the second half with a broken left hand.
Italian national team candidate Donte DiVincenzo made nine 3-pointers and scored 39 points for the Knicks, who were trying to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2000 but couldn’t overcome the injuries of Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic, before losing OG Anunoby and finally Brunson.
German big man Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed eight rebounds for the losing side.