Even after the Timberwolves became the toast of the NBA after a convincing Game 2 victory, and fans began scheming parade routes in the three off days before Game 3, the Wolves figured they would see the championship mettle of the Nuggets on Friday night at Target Center.
Denver delivered, and the Wolves had almost no response for the Nuggets in a 117-90 trouncing. A team that has had the requisite energy and urgency in each of its previous playoff games looked disinterested, like it had assumed the Nuggets would just bow out of the series after the Wolves took it to them in Game 2.