The GIST: Game 7 Sundays are always filled with heart-pounding action and Stephen A. Smith memes. With the Conference Finals now set, let’s take a look at how it all unfolded.
Minnesota Timberwolves shock the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets: Despite being down by 20 points at one stage, the Wolves staged a remarkable comeback to win Game 7 by a score of 98-90, eliminating MVP Nikola Jokić and his Nuggets from the playoffs. Anthony Edwards’ confidence and the Wolves’ solid defense were key in sealing the victory.
For the first time since 2004 (the year Kelly Clarkson released “Since U Been Gone”), the Wolves are advancing to the Western Conference Finals where they will face Luka Dončić’s Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.
Indiana Pacers defeat the New York Knicks with a stellar shooting performance: After trailing 3-2 in the series, the Pacers rallied to win Game 7 with a score of 130-109, sending the injury-plagued Knicks home.
The Knicks suffered a setback when their leader, Jalen Brunson, got injured in the second half. The Pacers set a playoff record by shooting 67.1% from the field, with all five starters contributing at least 17 points.
ECF action starts tomorrow: Making their first ECF appearance since 2014, the Pacers will take on the Boston Celtics in Boston at 8 p.m. ET. The Celtics, who have significantly more postseason experience, have reached six of the last eight ECF. However, the Pacers are fully healthy and have had success against Boston in the regular season. It’s shaping up to be an exciting matchup.
