NBA Playoffs: Timberwolves send Nuggets packing as defending champs crash despite 20-point lead

The Minnesota Timberwolves have completed the biggest Game 7 comeback in NBA history, overcoming a 20-point deficit to stun the Denver Nuggets 98-90 and sending the defending champions packing.

Timberwolves trailed 58-38 early in the third quarter, with Nuggets seemingly on track to secure their place in the Western Conference Finals as the Ball Arena crowd turned its attention to a match-up with Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.

Instead, the Timberwolves flipped the script in stunning fashion, outscoring Denver 28-14 in the third and going on with the job in the fourth to seal the historic series victory.

The Timberwolves were seemingly gifted an opportunity to have the final say in the quarter when a poor Jokic pass was picked off by Edwards but second-year guard Christian Braun refused to give up on the play, tracking down Conley and blocking his shot.

That hustle play, one of many from Braun off the bench in the first half,  then led to a Murray bucket on the other end that gave Denver a comfortable 53-38 halftime lead.

Murray picked up where he left off with the first five points of the third quarter before Minnesota upped the intensity on the defensive end, going on a 15-1 run as a result.

Unfortunately for Nuggets it was only the start of a dominant third quarter for the Timberwolves, who were trailing at one point 58-38 but went into the fourth only down 67-66.

Meanwhile, if there was a play that summed up how the game was going it came with 7:44 on the clock as Gobert of all players hit a fadeaway at the buzzer.

Timberwolves though were still hustling for their buckets, as was the case when Naz Reid fought for an offensive rebound and was fouled, making both free throws to put the Timberwolves ahead 87-82 entering the final four minutes.

The Timberwolves led 92-82 at that point and had all the momentum, not relinquishing it to send the Nuggets out and secure a date in the Western Conference Finals.