Timberwolves Oust Nuggets in Six Games, Advance to Face Spurs

Key facts

• Timberwolves defeated Nuggets 110-98 in Game 6 to win series 4-2.
• Jaden McDaniels scored a playoff career-high 32 points for Minnesota.
• Terrence Shannon Jr added 24 points for the Timberwolves.
• Nikola Jokić recorded a triple-double in Game 5 as Denver pulled to 3-2.
• Aaron Gordon missed Game 6 for Denver due to a calf injury.
• Minnesota will face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals.
• The Nuggets' earliest playoff exit since the 2017-18 season when they missed the playoffs.

Minnesota's Aggressive Play Overwhelms Denver

The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets 110-98 in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series, advancing to the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since 2004. The victory marked the earliest playoff exit for the Denver Nuggets since the 2017-18 season, when they failed to qualify for the postseason entirely. Minnesota controlled the game from the opening tip, with Jaden McDaniels scoring a playoff career-high 32 points and Terrence Shannon Jr. adding 24. The Timberwolves attacked the basket relentlessly, despite shooting just 2-for-11 from three-point range. Their energy and constant pressure created problems Denver could not solve. The Nuggets' final lead of the game came with 6:00 remaining in the second quarter. Minnesota built its largest lead, 10 points, with 43 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves led in nearly every team statistical category except field goal percentage and free throw percentage, and they committed almost double the turnovers of Denver.

McDaniels and Shannon Jr. Lead the Charge

Jaden McDaniels delivered a standout performance, scoring 32 points on efficient shooting and playing tenacious defense. His 19-foot jumper with 1:07 remaining extended Minnesota's lead and effectively sealed the game. Terrence Shannon Jr. provided a spark off the bench, driving the lane and converting an and-one with 1:43 left, then making the free throw. Without Aaron Gordon in the lineup due to a calf injury, Denver struggled to control the paint. The Nuggets missed Gordon's defensive versatility and rebounding, allowing Minnesota to dominate inside. The Timberwolves outscored Denver in the paint and controlled the glass, with Rudy Gobert grabbing key rebounds and making critical free throws down the stretch.

Controversial Foul and Key Moments in the Fourth Quarter

With 4:50 remaining in the fourth quarter, Rudy Gobert was called for a foul on Jamal Murray after a pick-and-roll sequence. Replays showed Gobert shoving Nikola Jokić in the back, followed by Jokić making contact with Gobert before Gobert struck Murray in the head. Officials reviewed the play and upheld the call as a simple loose ball foul on Gobert. In the final minute, Julius Randle missed the second of two free throws, but Denver failed to secure the rebound. Nikola Jokić then fouled Gobert, who made both free throws to give Minnesota its largest lead of the game at 10 points with 43 seconds remaining. Jamal Murray missed a three-point attempt with 25 seconds left, and Gobert grabbed the rebound. Julius Randle dribbled out the clock as Minnesota secured the victory.

Series Context and Key Injuries

The Timberwolves took a commanding 3-1 series lead with a 112-96 victory in Game 4, led by Ayo Dosunmu's 43 points. Jamal Murray scored 30 for Denver in that game. However, Minnesota suffered significant injuries: Anthony Edwards missed Game 5 and 6 with a knee injury, and Donte DiVincenzo was lost for the season with a torn Achilles. Denver also dealt with injuries, as Aaron Gordon was questionable for Game 6 with a calf injury and Peyton Watson was ruled out with a hamstring issue. Despite the absences, Minnesota's depth proved decisive. The Timberwolves had five players score 12 or more points in the series, with Julius Randle averaging 23.2 points per game. Nikola Jokić led Denver with 28.9 points per game, but the Nuggets could not overcome the loss of Gordon and the Timberwolves' relentless attack.

What's Next: Timberwolves Face Spurs in Semifinals

The Timberwolves now advance to face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals. Minnesota will need to get healthy quickly, particularly Anthony Edwards, if they hope to compete against the Spurs. The Timberwolves will also need to address their three-point shooting, as they shot just 2-for-11 from beyond the arc in Game 6. Denver's early exit raises questions about the team's future. The Nuggets, who won the NBA championship in 2023, have now been eliminated in the first round for the second consecutive season. The team will need to evaluate its roster and address the lack of depth that was exposed by Minnesota's aggressive play.

A Statement Win for Minnesota

The Timberwolves' victory is a statement to the league. After years of rebuilding and playoff disappointments, Minnesota has finally broken through. The team's defensive intensity and balanced scoring, even without their star player Anthony Edwards, demonstrated a resilience that could carry them deep into the playoffs. For Denver, the loss is a bitter pill. The Nuggets entered the series as the third seed and were favored to advance. Instead, they become the latest top seed to fall to a lower-seeded team in a first-round upset. The series exposed Denver's reliance on Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, and the team's inability to adjust when key players were injured. As the Timberwolves move on, the Nuggets are left to ponder what might have been.

The bottom line

• Minnesota Timberwolves defeated Denver Nuggets 4-2 in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
• Jaden McDaniels scored a playoff career-high 32 points in the series-clinching Game 6.
• The Nuggets' earliest playoff exit since the 2017-18 season, when they missed the playoffs.
• Minnesota will face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals.
• Key injuries: Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) out for Timberwolves; Aaron Gordon (calf) missed Game 6 for Denver.
• The Timberwolves' depth and aggressive play overwhelmed the Nuggets, despite poor three-point shooting.