The Nuggets are two wins away from NBA history.

No franchise in the history of the league has overcome a 3-1 deficit in a playoff series three times. It’s only happened on 13 occasions overall, with Denver owning the most recent two — both in the 2020 bubble playoffs in Orlando.

The Timberwolves being a perfect 3-0 all time in playoff series they’ve led 3-1 — including a first-round series against the Nuggets in 2004 — should be motivation enough to avoid being on the wrong side of history.

But there’s a trio on this Minnesota roster that has already felt what it’s like to lose a 3-1 series lead at the hands of these Nuggets. 

Veterans Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles were all on the Jazz in 2020 when Denver came back from a 3-1 deficit in the first round of those playoffs.

Conley, in particular, will likely never forget that feeling as it was his game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer of Game 7 that just missed and sent Denver on to the second round while he and his team had to head home ahead of an uncertain offseason.

“We know how capable (Denver is), especially Rudy and I (and) Joe,” Conley said before Game 5 of this series. “We played these guys a few years back when they were able to come back from (being down) 3-1. We don’t want to give them any reason to get anything rolling and figure some things out.”

The Nuggets were able to do that, though, with a 125-113 win at Ball Arena that forced Thursday’s Game 6 (7:30 p.m. ESPN) back in Minnesota. Nikola Jokic had his best game of the series with a triple-double, while role players like Cam Johnson, Spencer Jones and Christian Braun all found success for large stretches after going quiet in Games 3 and 4.

The Timberwolves don’t believe anything the Nuggets did isn’t fixable with another chance to end the series in Game 6.

“They were just more physical than us. It’s as simple as that,” Gobert said. “I think they had more energy from us and you could feel it with the team. We kept competing, but they were the more physical team. That’s the story of the game.”

The Wolves hope the story of Game 6 is defined by an image of them celebrating a series with the home crowd afterward.

“Obviously, a lot is at stake, but it’s basketball,” Gobert said. “We want people to come in and bring their energy, bring their belief, their aura. We want them to have a good time. These are the moments that you dream about, that you want to be a part of.”

They are moments that Conley and Gobert, in particular, have shared for seven straight seasons, first in Utah and now in Minnesota. They’ve experienced the highs and the lows, reaching back-to-back Western Conference finals with the Wolves after several disappointing playoff exits with the Jazz.

Even shorthanded, down Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, there’s belief that another long playoff run is still possible. They just have to take care of business in one of the next two games against the Nuggets and avoid being on the wrong side of history, again. 

“I think everything happens for a reason,” Gobert said. “Those guys, they mean a lot to me and they’ve been great teammates throughout my whole career. It’s a blessing to still be able to do it together right now and to have this opportunity ahead of us. We want to make the most of it.”

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NBA history of 3-1 series leads

All teams all time: 286-13 (95.7 winning %)

Nuggets down 3-1 all time: 2-15

Most recent series: Second round vs. Clippers in 2020

Timberwolves up 3-1 all time: 3-0

Most recent series: Second round vs. Warriors in 2025