Anthony Edwards, Wolves Excite NBA Fans After Rout vs. Jokić, Nuggets to Force Game 7

The Minnesota Timberwolves aren't going down without a fight.

Despite losing three contests in a row in their second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, the Timberwolves bounced back with a commanding 115-70 victory in Thursday's Game 6 at Target Center. The series is now tied at three apiece and will come down to the decisive Game 7 in Denver.

Anthony Edwards spearheaded the effort with 27 points, four assists, four rebounds and three steals, while Jaden McDaniels (21 points) and Karl-Anthony Towns (10 points, 13 rebounds and five assists) played well in support.

Even in defeat, Nikola Jokić impressed with 22 points and nine rebounds, but Jamal Murray went just 4-of-18 from the field as the supporting cast failed to match Minnesota's. Much of the credit goes to the Timberwolves defense for the Nuggets' poor showing, which started with Edwards guarding Murray for stretches.

Social media had nothing but love for the Minnesota leader:

It was easy to assume the Nuggets figured out the Timberwolves and were about to clinch a spot in the Western Conference Finals coming into Thursday's contest. After all, the reigning champions bounced back from losses in the opening two games in dramatic fashion with three straight victories, and Jokić was completely unstoppable the last time out.

Minnesota had other ideas.

The home team exploded out of the gates and used a 20-0 run to build a 19-point halftime lead. Edwards was dialed in from deep, while McDaniels provided a much-needed secondary scoring spark and the combination of Rudy Gobert and Towns battled Jokić on the boards.

But it was the defense that was most notable, as the Timberwolves swarmed Denver's outside shooters. Murray was also ice cold as the visitors failed to generate any offense outside of their superstar big man.

There would be no comeback with that defense setting the tone, especially since Edwards remained unstoppable into the second half as he busted out a hesitation move into a dunk. The only concern for the Timberwolves came when he fell hard to his back on a drive attempt and remained down for some time.

Fortunately for Minnesota, he remained in the game and helped build a big enough lead that both teams emptied their benches early in the fourth quarter. Even the Timberwolves' bench players dominated Denver's, much to the raucous crowd's delight.

Sunday's Game 7 on the road will be much more difficult, but nothing was stopping Edwards and the Timberwolves on Thursday.