(Photo : Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 10: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics defends Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves at TD Garden on January 10, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Timberwolves 127-120 in overtime.
The best two words in professional basketball – Game 7.
The Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves need another day to conclude their series after Nikola Jokic and company failed to close the door on the Wolves in Game 6.
The Nuggets suffered the worst loss ever by a defending champion in the playoffs after losing by 45 points on the road, 70-115.
Everybody loves a Game 7.
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While Minnesota’s Game 6 is for their supporters to celebrate, other teams in the East feel good, too, because another day of the Western semis series means adjusting their schedule.
The result means the East Finals opener will be moved from Sunday to Tuesday.
This gives participating teams more rest for injured key players.
First, the New York Knicks
Coach Tim Thibodeau’s squad can finish the Indiana Pacers on Friday. If they do, they will earn ample rest for all five starters who have been playing more than 40 minutes a game.
The extended rest will especially benefit OG Anunoby, who has not played in the last three games due to a hamstring injury.
He will remain out for Game 6, which will be held at the Pacers’ home court.
The Wolves’ win over the Nuggets is also a welcome concept for the Boston Celtics, who finished their series with the Cleveland Cavaliers in just five games.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla savored the chance to rest and commended his team’s efforts to keep the series with the Cavs from going longer.
“It’s important to take advantages of the opportunities you have,” he said after the Game 5 victory.
“It’s a gift that we have the rest now, because we took advantage of the opportunity that we had. Now we can be grateful for that rest. But you don’t know. Sometimes rest isn’t good for you. Sometimes it is. We’ll at least take tomorrow off.”
The Cs have played without their starting center, Kristaps Porzingis, since Game 5 of their first-round series with the Miami Heat.
He was diagnosed with a right soleus strain on May 1 and was projected to miss “several games,” according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
It’s been six games since then. Has he fully recovered?
Kristaps Porzingis return in East Finals still in the bubble
The Boston Celtics have yet to release a PR on the availability of Porzingis as they await the winner of the Knicks-Pacers series.
The 7’2 center gave Celtics supporters a glimpse of his recovery by sharing a video of him doing light work on the basketball a few days ago through his Instagram stories.
A player needs to be able to join practices before he gets a clearance to return.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo had a similar injury on his left leg, but he never got the chance to play. He stood only as a witness to his team’s defeat at the hands of the Pacers.
The initial expectation was that he would be able to return either by the East Finals or the NBA Finals.
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