Sports
Starting 5, May 20: Two all time Game 7s just happened – NBA.com
Wolves rally from down 20 while Pacers produce historic shooting performance to clinch Conference Finals berths on Sunday.
For the first time in NBA history, two road teams won Game 7s on the same day.
And both of them smashed records as they did it.
THE LINEUP 🏀
What’s inside today’s edition?
Largest Game 7 Comeback: Minnesota rallied from 20 down vs. Denver to reach its 1st WCF since ’04
New Champ Coming: What propelled the Wolves’ series win over the defending champions?
Indy Sets Scoring Mark: The Pacers moved on with a Game 7 & Playoff record-setting performance
Top Quotes From Sunday: A day unlike any we’ve ever seen, from those at the center of the action
Conference Finals Early Look: What to look for in Pacers-Celtics & Mavs-Wolves
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Sunday’s scores & what to watch today.
Today: The NBA All-Rookie Team will be announced at 2 ET, with All-Defensive coming Tuesday & All-NBA on Wednesday.
The Eastern Conference Finals start Tuesday (8 ET, ESPN), when the Celtics host the Pacers.
Western Conference Finals tip on Wednesday in Minnesota (8:30 ET, TNT) when the Mavericks come to town.
1. DOWN 20, WOLVES MAKE HISTORY
The Timberwolves pull off the largest 2nd-half comeback in Game 7 history with a confident, collected total team effort.
With 10:50 left in the 3rd quarter of Game 7, in an arena where Denver had gone a combined 14-3 over the past two postseasons, the Minnesota Timberwolves trailed, 58-38.
What happened over the next 22:50, as the Wolves battled back to beat the defending champs 98-90, carved this upstart Minnesota team’s name into the record books. | Recap
Being Themselves, At The Biggest Time: The NBA’s top-rated defense won the 3rd quarter 28-14 – including a 28-9 run to finish the frame and cut a 20-point deficit down to just one heading into the 4th. Watch the rally, uncut
Minnesota executes the biggest 2nd-half comeback in NBA playoff history and eliminates the defending-champion Nuggets.
4th Quarter: Denver threatened again and again, tying the game at 72-72 with 10 minutes left and getting within 3 with under 5 mins left, at 85-82. But the Wolves kept coming.
Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 35 points, including 24 in the first half, while Kia NBA MVP Nikola Jokic put up another monster line, going for 34 pts, 19 reb and 7 ast.
2. NEW CHAMP ON THE WAY AFTER WILD SERIES
For the sixth straight year, the NBA will have a different champion – just the second time that’s ever happened, and the first time in 44 years.
A Year’s Difference: After Denver took down the Wolves in five games last year, Minnesota became just the ninth team to beat a defending champ in their home building in a Game 7.
Edwards, despite a 6-for-24 night, kept his superstar rise going with a 27.7 average on 50% shooting for the series – making him just the 8th player age 22 or younger to average 25 ppg going into the Conference Finals.
Up Next: The Timberwolves aim to make their first NBA Finals appearance in team history.
3. PACERS SHATTER RECORDS, ADVANCE TO FIRST ECF SINCE ’14
Indy Makes History In MSG: In a win or go home Game 7, against an all-time rival, playing in enemy territory in The World’s Most Famous Arena, the Indiana Pacers put on one of history’s greatest Playoff performances to reach their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2014.
Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 26 points as the Pacers – the NBA’s top offense during the regular season – broke an NBA Playoff record by shooting 67.1% from the field to eliminate the Knicks, 130-109, on Sunday. | Recap
The Pacers set a record for best shooting performance in a playoff game as they defeat the Knicks and advance to the East Finals.
It Takes Everyone: TJ McConnell’s 12 points and 7 assists helped him to a +21 rating, making him the 12th player of the play-by-play era to be +21 or better off the bench in a Game 7.
A New Chapter: The third Game 7 between the two teams saw Indy make 11 of its first 12 shots, then after the Knicks cut the lead to 73-67 in the third quarter, build the lead back up to 84-70.
4. SUNDAY’S TOP QUOTES
How to sum up a monumental day in league history?
Let’s get out of the way and have the players & coaches tell the story.
Wolves
Pacers
Nuggets
Knicks
5. CONFERENCE FINALS LOOK-AHEAD
Anthony Edwards didn’t hesitate.
When the Inside the NBA crew asked Ant postgame about his thoughts on facing Dallas, he answered quickly.
Minnesota hosts Dallas for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday (8:30 ET, TNT), in a showdown between two teams whose defense has caused nightmares this postseason – and two teams who haven’t met since one (Dallas) overhauled its defense completely.
But first, the Pacers and Celtics meet on Tuesday (8 ET, ESPN) in a series defined – at least to start – by offense.
The playoff expectations could not be more different between the heavily favored Celtics and up-and-coming Pacers.
All eyes will be on Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards, but this series may be more about defense than offensive fireworks.
Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers put on an offensive clinic, the Knicks break down and the Eastern Conference Finals are set.
After trailing big, Minnesota locks down and executes a 20-point Game 7 comeback to topple defending-champion Denver.
The playoff expectations could not be more different between the heavily favored Celtics and up-and-coming Pacers.
All eyes will be on Luka Doncic and Anthony Edwards, but this series may be more about defense than offensive fireworks.
Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers put on an offensive clinic, the Knicks break down and the Eastern Conference Finals are set.
After trailing big, Minnesota locks down and executes a 20-point Game 7 comeback to topple defending-champion Denver.
Keyonte George scores 30 points and hits the game-winning free throws in OT as Utah outlasts No. 9 pick Zach Edey (14 pts, 13 reb) and Memphis.
Ricky Council IV scores 29 points and No. 16 pick Jared McCain adds 15 points and six rebounds to pace Philly's win.
Still more than 5 months from his 18th birthday, Flagg shows why NBA teams will be coveting his skills in next year's Draft.
The Nets are planning on a strategic rebuild after trading Mikal Bridges to the Knicks for several future first-round picks.
Our writers reveal which players should start for Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Opening weekend of the California Classic is in the books, Salt Lake City Summer League tips off today, while Paris Olympics prep continues in Las Vegas.
