Timberwolves Stun Nuggets! How the Knicks' Destruction of Hawks Changes the NBA Playoff Landscape Forever!

The Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off a stunning upset in the NBA playoffs by eliminating the third-seeded Denver Nuggets, led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. The Timberwolves secured a 110-98 victory in Game 6, giving them a 4-2 series win and advancing them to the Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs. This marks a significant achievement for the sixth-seeded Timberwolves, especially considering they played without their star guard Anthony Edwards, who is nursing a bone bruise and a hyperextended left knee.

Throughout the game in Minneapolis, tension hung in the air as both teams fought tooth and nail for every point, with neither squad able to establish a commanding lead until the final moments. The Timberwolves managed to edge ahead at halftime, leading 57-50. Jokic, who scored a game-high 28 points, attempted to rally his team in the third quarter, contributing 14 points alone. However, his efforts weren't enough to combat the resilience of the Timberwolves.

The game took a heated turn when Jokic, already facing scrutiny from a previous ejection for unsportsmanlike conduct in Game 4, found himself in another altercation with Timberwolves' Jaylen Clark. With just 90 seconds left and the Timberwolves up by five, Jaden McDaniels hit a crucial jump shot that energized the home crowd and forced a Nuggets timeout. Denver struggled to regain momentum, resulting in turnovers that sealed their fate. McDaniels capped off a stellar performance, scoring a career-high 32 points and securing the win with two free throws.

“It’s a great night. It’s a great victory for us. Hopefully … we’ve got 12 more to go,” said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch.

In contrast, a visibly disheartened Jokic stated, “I needed to play better. I must play better,” acknowledging his need for improvement as the Nuggets faced an early exit from the playoffs, having won the championship just three years ago.

Knicks Dominate Hawks in Historic Rout

Elsewhere in the NBA, the New York Knicks delivered one of the most overpowering performances in playoff history, demolishing the Atlanta Hawks 140-89. This victory set a franchise record for most points scored in a playoff game and the largest margin of victory, officially concluding their series 4-2. The Knicks will now face either the Celtics or the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, as their series is tied 3-3 following a Philadelphia win.

New York’s commanding performance saw them build a staggering 61-point lead at one point, with a halftime advantage of 83-36—the widest in NBA postseason history. OG Anunoby led the scoring with 29 points, netting 26 in the first half alone before sitting out the remainder of the game. None of the Knicks' starters logged more than 29 minutes on the court.

“We can’t just meet the moment, we’ve got to exceed it, and I thought we did a great job of doing that tonight,” reflected Karl-Anthony Towns, who recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Despite having finished third in the Eastern Conference and entering the playoffs as favorites, the Knicks had initially struggled, falling behind 2-1 in the series before making a dramatic comeback to secure their fourth consecutive advance to the East’s semifinals. The Hawks saw an early lead slip away, trailing 40-15 by the end of the first quarter. Hawks coach Quin Snyder expressed disappointment at the loss, stating, “Obviously, you hate to lose anything. And to lose the way we did… disappointed on a lot of levels.”

76ers Force Decisive Game 7 Against Celtics

Meanwhile, the playoff series between the Celtics and the 76ers is headed for a pivotal Game 7 after Philadelphia triumphed over Boston 106-93. The Celtics, who once held a commanding 3-1 series lead, have now been brought back to square one by the 76ers, who showcased their dominance on their home turf. Tyrese Maxey shone with 30 points, while Paul George added 23, and 2023 MVP Joel Embiid contributed 19 points, alongside 10 rebounds and eight assists.

This matchup marks the 23rd playoff series between these two historic rivals, setting an NBA record and leaving fans eagerly anticipating the decisive game in Massachusetts.