With their backs against the wall and the stakes high, the Timberwolves returned to form, putting on one of their greatest postseason performances.

In Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal series Thursday night at Target Center in Minneapolis, the Wolves dominated from tip to finish, defeating the Denver Nuggets 115-70. This brings the series equal at 3-3 and secures a Game 7 on Sunday night in Denver. 

The Timberwolves looked like the club that played in Games 1 and 2 of the series in Denver, only better. The team that swamped the Nuggets on defense, overwhelmed and aggravated them throughout the night. They limited the Nuggets to 30% shooting from the field and 19% from three-point range. 

Nikola Jokic, fresh off a masterpiece effort in Game 5, was the only Nuggets player to find an offensive rhythm, finishing with 22 points, nine rebounds, and two assists, but it was a long cry from the game he provided the previous night. And he didn’t get much backup from his Nuggets teammates, who struggled in many areas. 

Despite injuring his knee in Game 5, Karl-Anthony Towns played an important role in keeping Jokic out of rhythm, putting in an amazing defensive performance. Despite his struggles from the field, Towns had a strong all-around performance, finishing with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists.

The Nuggets simply struggled. Jamal Murray scored 10 points on 4-of-18 shooting. Aaron Gordon scored only 12 points. Despite Denver waving the white flag with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter and behind by 30 points, the entire Nuggets bench scored only 11 points.

The Timberwolves’ only meaningful challenge all night came early in the first quarter, when the Nuggets opened the game with a 9-2 run. Minnesota called a fast timeout and responded with a 20-0 run, effectively ending the game. 

Anthony Edwards, who struggled against Denver’s double teams in Game 5, scored 14 of his game-high 27 points in the opening quarter. Edwards arrived when the Timberwolves needed him most.

And he battled. He suffered a heavy fall in the third quarter and was slow to recover before returning to shoot a pair of free throws and complete the game. 

Edwards also had four rebounds and four assists, with a plus-minus of +43. 

The Timberwolves led 31-14 at the end of the first quarter, but the Nuggets pulled within 12 early in the second quarter before the Timberwolves went on another 13-0 run to establish firm control. 

The script was completely flipped from Game 5. The Timberwolves struggled to find their rhythm in that game, failing to convert even on wide-open baskets. This time, it was the Nuggets who couldn’t claw their way back in, missing open shots or simply playing bad offense. 

The sold-out Target Center crowd chanted “Wolves in seven” while both teams played the majority of the fourth quarter from their benches. That remains to be proven, but the Timberwolves outperformed on every level in their most crucial game of the season.