MINNEAPOLIS— After a Game 7 comeback win about the Denver Nuggets getting to the Western Conference finals, the atmosphere emanating from the Minnesota Timberwolves is great.
Nowhere was that more evident than during the joint postgame news conference with Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Cities. Edwards and Towns, the big two looking to lead Minnesota to the promised land, were jubilant and carefree as they answered questions from the media.
You can watch the full press conference in the video above, or read a selection of the best quotes and moments below.
On the Timberwolves’ team chemistry
Towns: “This is Timberwolves basketball. I think this was a true display of Timberwolves basketball at its best, where it’s a team effort. We have hype for players that we have, I, [Edwards] on this table, but I already said, we don’t have a big three, we have a big 15. Every person on this team means a lot to this team and they help in so many different ways. This game just shows that the Timberwolves – not Anthony Edwards, not Karl-Anthony Towns, not Rudy Gobert — the Timberwolves are a special team.”
On what this win means for Towns
Towns: “I’ve been here nine years, I’ve talked about wanting to win and do something special here with this organization. Despite all the failures and all the things that didn’t happen, what happened, the disappointment that comes with it. have this moment where, even just for this moment, we can celebrate the victories. For me, being here for nine years, I’ve seen it all and seen it all.”
Edwards: “Man, f–k them nine years.”
Towns: “Man, f–k, right?”
Edwards: “This year.”
When the tide turned in Game 7
Edwards: “I think when Rudy made the turnaround, I was like, ‘Yeah, we probably got them,’ because I know that would kill you, that would kill your whole life – that would kill everything. Big shout out to big Ru, man , Big Ru has achieved the turnaround on them….”
About the showdown with the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals
Towns: “Honestly, I think we’re so happy with this moment that we can’t even think about the next moment.”
Edwards: “I’m thinking about it.”
WCCO
On a reporter’s claim that NBA teams typically “have to lose a lot and lose a lot before you win”
Towns: “We lost last year.”
News reporter: “Yes, but that’s different. Usually you have to lose on a bigger stage.”
Towns: “It’s the play-offs! We lost last year.”
Edwards: “We lost the last two years, s–t.”
Towns: “Godd–n, how much more do we have to lose?”
Edwards: “How much do you want us to lose?”
Towns: “We’ve been losing for 20 years.”
Edwards: “I mean, that’s just the truth, dog.”
On the comeback to beat the Nuggets
Edwards: “Today was crazy. We were down 20.”
Towns: “That wasn’t Timberwolves basketball. That was park basketball.”
Edwards: “That was Wolves basketball.”
Towns: “That was Wolves, now we play Timberwolves.”
About head coach Chris Finch
Edwards: “He’s just a great coach and he doesn’t sugarcoat anyone. When KAT breaks down, he goes after KAT. When I’m angry, he comes at me. If Rudy messes up, he’ll tackle whoever makes a mistake throughout the game, and I think to me that’s what makes him the best coach in the NBA because no matter who it is, no matter how high the player is. is on pole, he will chase you from start to finish.”
Meanwhile, the mood in the opponent’s dressing room was understandably grimmer. In his postgame press release, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone asked how much this particular loss hurts.
“Next question, man. The season is over. That’s the hard part,” Malone said. “F–k is already 20. The season is over. You don’t understand that. The season is over. It’s hard. Stupid questions.”
However, the season is not over for the Wolves, who now have home field advantage for a Western Conference final game with the Dallas Mavericks.
