Fifth TWolvesRise Article! Game 2 Recap Part One: What on Earth?/Family First “Zooming out, the series should still be a war. Things aren’t looking great for Denver right now, but they’re the champs for a reason. I would be very surprised – borderline stunned – if they don’t win game two at home to tie the series. This series still likely goes at least six, but if anyone was still wondering if Minnesota, if Ant, was for real, they got their answer in Game 1. Even if Denver does manage to battle, come back, and eventually win this series and the title, Minnesota will once again be the toughest test they face in the playoffs, but they ain’t winning this series in no five games either. If they win the series it will almost certainly be in seven classic games. I still like my pick though. Already grabbed the split in Denver in Game 1. Wolves in Six baby. Game 2 will be today by the time anyone reads this piece. Like I said, I have too much faith in Denver to think they won’t even the series. I didn’t expect Minnesota to sweep Phoenix before that series though. This team is playing so well right now, they’re surprising even their most passionate fans, most diehard believers. Let’s shock the world tonight.” Well, consider me stunned, and not just borderline stunned either. That is how I ended my Game 1 recap roughly 48 hours ago. 24 hours ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves had beaten the defending champions again, in Denver, for a second game in a row. I never would’ve expected Minnesota to win both games in Denver before the series. I was cautiously optimistic about the Wolves’ chances to get a split. Winning Game 2 in any manner would’ve been an incredible statement from Minnesota. However, Game 2 was not a classic, all-time playoff game. It was not a tight affair throughout, as Game 1 had been. The Wolves absolutely dominated the Nuggets. Up 61-35 at half, many observers were still waiting for the seemingly inevitable Denver run to at least make the game competitive. It never came. The final score was 106-80. One hundred and six. To EIGHTY. Holding the Nuggets to 80 points without the best defensive player in the league was certainly not on my bingo card coming into the night that ended up being my very favorite in 15 years rooting for the Timberwolves. This would be true for any game against Denver, but especially in Denver, with the Nuggets trying desperately to tie up the series before it shifts to Minnesota. And they did it all without the Defensive Player of the Year, their anchor on that end, Rudy Gobert. Missing the game due to the birth of his first child unfortunately brought out the Gobert haters and hot take artists, somehow arguing that he was letting down his team. I thought Dwight Howard (maybe somewhat surprisingly) put it best when he tweeted “Great father ! Understand we are humans not just some props to place bets on congrats Rudy PRAYER HANDS EMOJI” I do think that Dwight is hitting on the key point. Basketball players are people. While professional basketball means a lot to so many people (including me, obviously, or I wouldn’t be writing this piece) it is ultimately not the most important thing in a player’s life, or at least it shouldn’t be. Family should always come first. Getting to witness the birth of your child is one of the most special things in anyone’s life, but also, maybe even more importantly, Rudy was there to support his partner, going through the incredibly physically and emotionally demanding process of childbirth. Even a birth that goes without any unexpected complications is difficult. Complications, unfortunately, can arise even extremely late in the process, which can lead to an incredibly dangerous situation for the mother, the baby, or both. Rudy made the 100% correct choice to be there for his family. The most beautiful part was watching his team pick him up, go out, and play one of the best defensive games in NBA playoff history, a testament and honor to the defensive culture that he was instrumental in creating in Minnesota. It was striking to compare this absence to the play-in game he missed last year, suspended by the team for punching a teammate during their final regular season game. This time an incredibly cohesive Wolves team was ready to pick up their now beloved big man. While obviously unintentional, the poetry of the Wolves’ two best offensive players, Karl Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards, each scoring 27 points in honor of #27 was impossible to ignore. Watching the entire team come to his press conference to celebrate his record-tying fourth Defensive Player of the Year Award the next day was incredibly moving as well.

I will be accepting handwritten apologies from all the thibs defenders at your earliest convenience

Well, at least this is the last game we have to watch Julius Randle in a Timberwolves uniform

How ass is Julius Randle?

Wolves in the clutch

Bones Hyland playing over Rob 😞 It'd so over

What an all time choke job

16 points on 22 shots #NotMyMVP

NAW 💔

YES 'CERS

You cannot possibly bring back Julius Randle after this with what he's going to cost. Some of the worst defensive energy and effort I've ever seen in a playoff game. His terrible body language and vibes are exactly what this team doesn't need

As unlikable as this Thunder team is, have to give them credit. After the first q, they had tons of opportunities to let their foot off the gas. Much like the Wolves in game 3, they just never conceded an inch. Hell of an effort

"Keeps the left foot down" says RJ, AS THE REPLAY LITERALLY SHOWS HIS FOOT COME OFF THE GROUND. BE FR

The NAW game

Unbelievable play by Shai to end the 3rd there. Much like with Harden, part of the frustration with SGA is that when he looks to score he's one of the most skilled and efficient players the league has ever seen

DONTE HAS ARRIVED BABY

That's a fucking great pass by Ant