Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic conceded that the Minnesota Timberwolves were strategically built to challenge his team, following their 98-90 victory in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.
“I mean, I think they’re built to beat us,” said Jokic, highlighting the Timberwolves’ formidable roster. “Just look at their roster. They have basically two All-Stars, two probably first-team defensive players. Mike Conley is the most underrated player in the NBA, probably.”
Despite a stellar performance from Jokic, who finished with 34 points, 19 rebounds, and seven assists, the Nuggets couldn’t maintain their early lead, eventually succumbing to the Timberwolves’ comeback.
Jokic emphasized the level of competition in the NBA, stating, “a team needs to be basically perfect to win the championship,” acknowledging the talent across the league.
After trailing 0-2 in the series, the Nuggets fought back to win three consecutive games before the Timberwolves forced a Game 7 tie with a dominant performance in Game 6.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden Daniels led the Timberwolves in scoring with 23 points each in Game 7, supported by double-digit contributions from the rest of the starters and Naz Reid off the bench.
Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, attributed the victory partly to luck, noting his previous involvement with the Nuggets’ championship-winning roster before joining Minnesota in 2022.
The Timberwolves advance to face the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday.
