\n
\n\t\t\tIn a first-round series featuring a perennial MVP candidate (Nikola Jokic) and several other stars, Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels was the best all-around player on the court, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
\nMcDaniels put an exclamation point on his dominant two-way first-round performance in Game 6, limiting Jamal Murray to 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting while registering a game-high 32 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in 45 minutes. The 25-year-old also sealed the series-clinching victory with key baskets down the stretch, as Krawczynski details.
\nSeveral other Timberwolves stepped up on Thursday with Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles), Anthony Edwards (knee), Ayo Dosunmu (calf) and Kyle Anderson (illness) sidelined, including Terrence Shannon Jr. (24 points, six rebounds, two steals), Rudy Gobert (10 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks), and Naz Reid (17 points, seven rebounds, four assists).
\nBut McDaniels was the driving force for Minnesota throughout the series, which saw the Wolves eliminate Denver from the playoffs for the second time in three years.
\n\u201cHe talked all series, and he backed it up all series,\u201d head coach Chris Finch said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s called legitimate tough.\u201d
\nHere\u2019s more from the Northwest Division:<\/p>\n
The Timberwolves took the Nuggets\u2019 late-season jockeying for position as a shot at them and used it as motivation throughout the hard-fought series, Troy Renck writes for the Denver Post. \u201cOur guys took it personally. Denver had the chance to pick who they wanted to play coming down the stretch and they chose us,\u201d coach Chris Finch said. \u201cWe used that as motivation in our preparation and all the way through the series.\u201d Denver, in truth, seemed to try to avoid the Wolves by sitting several starters and limiting Jokic (who needed one more appearance to qualify for award consideration) to 18 minutes in its regular season finale, but its bench rose to the occasion and won anyway, setting up the familiar intra-divisional matchup.
\nAjay Mitchell didn\u2019t realize he\u2019d taken 20 shots for the Thunder in his Game 3 start until after the win, when he looked at the stat sheet, Justin Martinez writes for The Oklahoman. However, he knew that it was his job to be extra aggressive with Jalen Williams out, and he embraced that responsibility. \u201cAjay is one of the toughest dudes in the league,\u201d Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. \u201cMentally, he\u2019s never shaken. He\u2019s never afraid of the moment. Ajay could be having the worst day ever, and you would never know. He\u2019s so solid. Having a teammate like that makes you more confident by just knowing that no matter what, you know what you\u2019re gonna get from him. The ball might not always go in, but you know what you\u2019re getting from Ajay every time he steps on the floor.\u201d
\nThe Trail Blazers took a big step in their team development by making the playoffs. Damian Lillard says it also became clear what the team needs heading into next season, Sean Meagher writes for The Oregonian. \u201cI think the obvious thing is, you know, we just need to be a better shooting team,\u201d Lillard said. \u201cI think when you got a guy like Deni [Avdija], who\u2019s constantly getting downhill and in the paint and, you know, forcing teams to have to help is going to generate good shots, you know, is going to generate opportunities. And we got to be able to capitalize on that. And you know I\u2019m going to be in the paint. I\u2019m gonna get around my guy. And teams are going to help. You know I know that I\u2019ll get attention. And it\u2019s going to lead to open shots as well.\u201d<\/p>\n