The Timberwovles beat the Nuggets, 110-98, in Game 6 on Thursday night to win their first round series and advance to the Western Conference semifinals where they will face Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. Minnesota's win was especially impressive because they were down three key players in star Anthony Edwards , Donte DiVincenzo who started all 82 games during the regular season, and Ayo Dosunmu who was averaging 21.8 points and four assists a game in the series.

It was an accomplishment worth celebrating, but one of the first things coach Chris Finch mentioned in his postgame press conference was what Denver had done to motivate the Timberwolves.…