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National Basketball Association
Preview
Minnesota at Denver
When: 8:00 PM ET, Sunday, May 19, 2024
Where: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado

After two hard-fought weeks, the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves will battle to see whose season will march on and who will pack up until next fall.

The Nuggets and Minnesota meet for Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinal series in Denver on Sunday night with a trip to the conference finals on the line. After six games of blowouts, tight games and wild swings, including the Timberwolves dismantling the Nuggets 115-70 in Game 6 on Thursday night, the series comes down to one night.

"They're the defending champs, so it's going to be super tough," Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards said. "They're at home. They're at the crib. Their fans are crazy. It's going to be super loud. But I feel like as a competitor, it's one of the best feelings in the world. ... I'm super pumped for it. I'm super happy. I'm ready to play it."

Second-seeded Denver wasn't ready to play in Game 6 and it showed. Third-seeded Minnesota led by as many as 50 and was never in danger after a 20-0 run in the first quarter and embarrassed the reigning champions.

But the Nuggets have shown in this series what a couple of days off can do for them. They lost Game 2 at home by 26 to fall behind 2-0 in the series but won the next three games to reach the brink of the Western Conference finals for the third time in five years.

They will need another big performance for three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who is averaging 28.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 8.8 assists in the postseason. Jokic had a master class performance in the 112-97 win in Game 5 with 40 points and 13 assists but was held in check two nights later.

The biggest issue once again for Denver is the health of Jamal Murray. He battled a left calf strain early in the series, used three off days to get right but then suffered a right elbow injury early in Game 6 that clearly affected his shot. He was 4-for-18 from the field and had two turnovers in the 45-point loss.

Murray had a wrap on his right arm as he worked on his floaters at Saturday's practice and was the last player off the court.

"He looked hungry today. He looked like he hadn't eaten in two days. ... I hope he doesn't eat until (Sunday) at 6 p.m.," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

Despite being just 22 years old, Edwards has become the Timberwolves' leader. He is averaging 30.2 points in 10 playoff games and has scored 40 or more points in three of those.

As electric as he has been, it will take big games from Karl-Anthony Towns and others to win for a third time in Denver. It helped when Mike Conley returned to the lineup after missing Game 5 with a sore right Achilles.

This is the Timberwolves' first Game 7 since beating Sacramento in the second round in 2004 -- which also took place on May 19. That marks the only time they've reached the conference finals while the Nuggets are playing in their fifth Game 7 in the last six seasons.

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W/L Strk Home Away Day Night Div Conf
Minnesota 63-29 W1 33-13 30-16 5-3 58-26 15-7 44-18
Denver 64-29 L1 37-10 27-19 9-3 55-26 13-9 40-23
Last Meeting
Minnesota Denver
Date Away Home Pts Reb FG% Pts Reb FG%
5/16/24 DEN 70 MIN 115 115 62 46.5 70 43 30.2
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Minnesota A. Edwards 27 47.1 7
Denver N. Jokic 22 47.4 4
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Minnesota R. Gobert 14 2 12
Denver N. Jokic 9 5 4
Assists Player  
Minnesota M. Conley 5
Denver J. Murray 5
Season
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Minnesota A. Edwards 2400 46.9 486
Denver N. Jokic 2461 58.0 423
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Minnesota R. Gobert 1110 317 793
Denver N. Jokic 1150 263 887
Assists Player  
Minnesota M. Conley 518
Denver N. Jokic 824
Quickchart Matchup
Minnesota Minnesota Off vs  Denver Denver Defense
Minnesota Off vs Denver - Points For 112.6 Points For
Minnesota Off vs Denver - Points Against 109.0 Points Against
Minnesota - FG% 48.5 FG%
Denver - FG% 46.5 FG%
Minnesota - Reb 43.6 Reb
Denver - Reb 42.2 Reb
Denver Denver Off vs  Minnesota Minnesota Defense
Denver Off vs Minnesota - Points For 113.5 Points For
Denver Off vs Minnesota - Points Against 105.9 Points Against
Denver - FG% 49.2 FG%
Minnesota - FG% 45.1 FG%
Denver - Reb 44.2 Reb
Minnesota - Reb 40.9 Reb