Timberwolves Lose Dosunmu and Anderson but Oust Nuggets 110-98 to Advance

Key facts

• Ayo Dosunmu scored a career-high 43 points in Game 4, then missed Game 6 with a sore right calf.
• Kyle Anderson was scratched from Game 6 due to an illness.
• Donte DiVincenzo suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon in the first minute of Game 4.
• Anthony Edwards was sidelined with a bone bruise in his left knee in the second quarter of Game 4.
• Denver's Aaron Gordon missed three of six games with left calf tightness; Peyton Watson did not play at all due to a strained right hamstring.
• Minnesota won Game 6 110-98 to take the series 4-2.
• The Timberwolves will face the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals.

Injury-Riddled Timberwolves Close Out Series

The Minnesota Timberwolves, despite losing two more key players before tipoff, defeated the Denver Nuggets 110-98 in Game 6 on Thursday night to win their first-round playoff series 4-2. The victory came hours after the team announced that guard Ayo Dosunmu would sit out with a sore right calf and forward Kyle Anderson with an illness. The absences added to a mounting injury crisis that had already claimed All-Star Anthony Edwards and guard Donte DiVincenzo earlier in the series.

Dosunmu's Absence Follows Career Performance

Dosunmu, acquired from the Chicago Bulls at the trade deadline, had been instrumental in Minnesota's success. He averaged a career-best 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists during the regular season, shooting 51.7% from the field and 43.9% from three-point range. In Game 4, with DiVincenzo and Edwards already out, Dosunmu erupted for a career-high 43 points to lead the Timberwolves to a 112-96 victory. He was ruled out of Game 6 after experiencing soreness in his right calf.

Nuggets Also Hampered by Key Injuries

Denver entered Game 6 without forwards Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson. Gordon, dealing with left calf tightness, missed his third game of the series. Watson, who suffered a strained right hamstring, had not played at all. The Nuggets had hoped Gordon might be available, but he was ultimately held out. Their absence left Denver without two of its best defenders, forcing the team to rely heavily on Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray for scoring.

Minnesota's Patchwork Lineup Delivers

With Dosunmu and Anderson out, coach Chris Finch started 19th-year veteran Mike Conley and 2024 first-round draft pick Terrence Shannon in the backcourt. Backup guard Bones Hyland, listed on the injury report with a sore left knee, was available off the bench. Jaylen Clark, who played sparingly during the regular season, also joined the rotation. Despite the makeshift lineup, the Timberwolves built an early lead and never trailed in the second half. DiVincenzo, who had surgery on his Achilles on Sunday, visited the team's morning shootaround on a scooter, and players wore his jersey to the arena in tribute.

Series Turned on Game 4 Collapse

The series shifted dramatically in Game 4 when DiVincenzo went down in the first minute and Edwards left in the second quarter. Minnesota, trailing 2-1, rallied behind Dosunmu to win 112-96 and even the series. The Nuggets pulled back within 3-2 with a 125-113 victory in Game 5 in Denver, but the Timberwolves closed out the series emphatically at home. The win sets up a Western Conference semifinal matchup against the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs.

What Comes Next for Both Teams

The Timberwolves will face a well-rested Spurs team that swept its first-round series. Minnesota's injury situation remains fluid: Edwards and DiVincenzo are unlikely to return soon, and Dosunmu's calf will be evaluated further. For the Nuggets, the offseason begins with questions about depth and health. Gordon and Watson's injuries exposed a lack of reliable options behind the starting lineup, and the team will need to address that in the draft and free agency.

The bottom line

• Minnesota won the series 4-2 despite losing four key players to injury, including All-Star Anthony Edwards.
• Ayo Dosunmu's career-high 43 points in Game 4 proved decisive, but he missed Game 6 with a calf injury.
• Denver's Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson were unavailable for most of the series, weakening the Nuggets' defense.
• The Timberwolves' depth, with contributions from Mike Conley and Terrence Shannon, was enough to close out the series.
• Minnesota advances to face the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals.
• Both teams face significant roster questions heading into the offseason, particularly regarding injury recovery and depth.