Minnesota Timberwolves Secure Final NBA Playoff Spot

The Minnesota Timberwolves secured the final NBA playoff spot with a 112 – 106 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets.

It was a winner-takes-all game between two teams vying for the same playoff spot. This hasn’t happened in the NBA since 1997. It is just the third time it’s happened since the NBA adopted its current format in 1983.

The final-day win for Minnesota (47-35) over the Nuggets (46-36) gives the Timberwolves their first playoff berth in 14 years. It was the longest playoff drought in NBA history.

It was a big night for Jimmy Butler, who was under pressure despite missing the last 6 weeks through injury. He delivered with a team-high 31 points, including 7 in overtime to secure a playoff spot for Minnesota.

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All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns was also on form. The center scored 26 points and added 14 rebounds.

It was vital that Minnesota’s players played well, because they were up against up-and-coming big man Nikola Jokic. He scored a game-high 35 points on 14-of-25 shooting for the Nuggets. He also had 10 rebounds and 3 assists in a performance that just wasn’t quite enough.

Andrew Wiggins added 18 points, 5 rebounds and three assists in 42 minutes for Minnesota. Rookie Sophomore guard Jamal Murray chipped in 20 points, six rebounds and six assists for Denver.

The Minnesota Timberwolves enter the playoffs as the No. 8 seed and will play the No.1 Western Team, the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

Full 2018 NBA Playoff Fixtures

Western conference

Houston Rockets (1) v Minnesota Timberwolves (8)

Golden State Warriors (2) v San Antonio Spurs (7)

Portland Trail Blazers (3) v New Orleans Pelicans (6)

Oklahoma City Thunder (4) v Utah Jazz (5)

Eastern conference

Toronto Raptors (1) v Washington Wizards (8)

Boston Celtics (2) v Milwaukee Bucks (7)

Philadelphia Sixers (3) v Miami Heat (6)

Cleveland Cavaliers (4) v Indiana Pacers (5)