The Minnesota Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference semifinals by defeating the Denver Nuggets 110-98 in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Target Center.

Despite missing key players, including Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu, the Timberwolves closed out the series 4-2. Jaden McDaniels led Minnesota with 32 points and 10 rebounds, while Terrence Shannon Jr. added 24 points in a surprise starting role. The duo combined for 56 points to power the depleted squad.

Nikola Jokic recorded 28 points for the Nuggets in the loss, but Denver struggled offensively, shooting inefficiently throughout the game. Jamal Murray contributed, though specific totals were unavailable immediately after the contest. The Nuggets trailed narrowly after the first quarter at 30-29 but fell behind by eight at halftime following a 28-20 second-quarter deficit by Minnesota.

The Timberwolves maintained control in the second half, outscoring Denver 25-24 in the third and 28-24 in the fourth. McDaniels sealed the victory with a pull-up jumper described as the dagger three-pointer.

The series seesawed after Denver took Game 1 on April 18, 116-105, behind 30 points from Murray. Minnesota evened it in Game 2, 119-114. The Timberwolves then convincingly won Games 3 and 4, 113-96 and 112-96, with Dosunmu's 43-point explosion in Game 4 giving them a 3-1 lead.

Jokic's triple-double in Game 5, a 125-113 Denver win on April 27, forced Game 6 and cut the deficit to 3-2. Over the series, Jokic averaged 25.8 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 9.5 assists, leading the playoffs in rebounding and assists.

Rudy Gobert provided strong interior defense for Minnesota, highlighted by a key dunk in Game 6. The Timberwolves' rebounding edge, 47.2 per game to Denver's 38.3, proved crucial in the series.

This marks the second straight year the Timberwolves have faced the Nuggets in the first round, after upsetting them en route to the 2023 Western Conference finals. Minnesota now prepares for its next opponent, while the defending champions from 2023 exit early once again.