Timberwolves upset Nuggets in Game 6

Minnesota just pulled off the kind of playoff win that usually lives in “how did that even happen?” territory. The Timberwolves beat Denver 110-98 on Thursday, April 30, and closed the series 4-2. That alone is big. But the real twist is that they did it while missing Anthony Edwards and other key guards, then basically won by getting bigger, tougher, and more stubborn than a team built around Nikola Jokić. The bracket changes now — Denver is out, and Minnesota moves on to San Antonio. (espn.com) ### How shorthanded were the Wolves? Very. Edwards was out, and ESPN’s recap described Minnesota as missing its top three guards because of injuries. Ayo Dosunmu was also out, and the whole setup forced the Wolves away from their normal perimeter shape and into something much more frontcourt-heavy. That matters because this was not a “st(espn.com)esota had to rethink the whole geometry of the night. (espn.com) ### So what did Minnesota change? They went big and leaned all the way into it. Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid gave Minnesota a bruising interior base, and the Wolves turned that into a 64-40 edge in points in the paint and a 50-33 rebounding advantage. Basically, instead of trying to survive without their usual guard creation, (espn.com)d bodies at the rim. That is not a subtle adjustment — that is a full identity swap for one night. (espn.com) ### Who actually carried the scoring? Jaden McDaniels was the shock to the system. He finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds — a playoff career high — and Terrence Shannon Jr., in a surprise start, added 24. Those are not the names Denver expected to beat them in an elimination game. That’s the part that makes this feel like a real upse(espn.com)n’t just hold up. They were the offense. (espn.com) ### What did Denver get from Jokić? A lot, but not enough. Jokić had 28 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists, which is basically one stat short of another triple-double. The problem was everything around that line. Minnesota controlled the physical parts of the game, and Denver never really solved the Wolves’ size after halftime. When a(espn.com)ns the opponent dictated the terms everywhere else. (espn.com) ### Why does this count as an upset? Start with the seeds — Denver was No. 3, Minnesota No. 6. Then add the injuries. Then add the setting, because closeout games against experienced teams usually get harder, not easier, when your shot creators disappear. And this is now the second time in three seasons that Minnesota has ended Denver’s (espn.com)a real pressure point in the West’s recent playoff history. (cbssports.com) ### What changes in the bracket now? Minnesota advances to face San Antonio in the second round. That reshapes the West because Denver was one of the teams you’d expect to matter deep into May as long as Jokić was still standing. Instead, the Wolves move on with momentum and, if the injury timeline bre(cbssports.com) anything — but it changes the ceiling fast. (cbssports.com) ### Why is this result sticking? Because it was not fluky in the usual sense. Minnesota didn’t shoot absurdly hot and steal one. The Wolves won with rebounding, paint scoring, lineup adaptation, and role players blowing past expectation. That tends to feel more repeatable — or at least more revealing —(cbssports.com)got control back. (espn.com) ### Bottom line The Timberwolves didn’t just survive an injury crisis. They used it to force a different kind of game and knocked out a higher seed anyway. That’s why this lands as one of the first round’s real bracket-breakers. (cbssports.com)