This is perhaps the greatest moment in Wolves history. It is in any case the last and only the second series won by the club. On May 19, 2004, Minnesota hosted Sacramento for a place in the conference finals.
Kevin Garnett (47 years old, this May 19) will then achieve one of his greatest career games, and a legendary performance for a Game 7. The interior of Wolves, MVP this same season and who celebrated his 28th spring this day there, indeed compiles 32 points, 21 rebounds, 5 blocks and 4 steals!
“I had unique gifts for my birthday but none of this type”explained KG after the meeting. “I felt like I had to lead by example. »
A performance worthy of Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
In NBA history, only six players before Kevin Garnett (and none since) had compiled 30 points and 20 rebounds in Game 7: Charles Barkley in 1993, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1977, Wilt Chamberlain in 1964, 1965 and 1970, Elgin Baylor and Bill Russell, in the same meeting, in 1962, and Tom Heinson in 1957.
All the technical panoply of Kevin Garnett goes through it: mid-distance shoot, game with his back to the circle, technique and feint, finishing with the board. Chris Webber and the Kings held it well for three quarters but in the last act, the “Big Ticket” scored 14 points. Inside Sacramento will have the equalizing ball, but will narrowly miss the target and the Kings will fall for the third straight year in Game 7 after losses to the Lakers in 2002 and the Mavericks in 2003.
The 19,944 spectators can explode: Minnesota wins 83-80 and joins the conference final, lost to the Lakers. That was 19 years ago, and the franchise has been waiting to win a playoff streak ever since.
