Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch revealed that his team had a little extra motivation going against the Denver Nuggets during the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Finch argued that the Nuggets had targeted the Timberwolves in the playoffs by how they played out the end of the regular season.
“Denver had the chance to pick who they wanted to play coming down the stretch and they chose us,” Finch said. “We used that as motivation all the way through preparation and through the series. They didn’t have to choose us. They chose us.”
Chris Finch:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 1, 2026
"Denver had the chance to pick who they wanted to play coming down the stretch and they chose us. We used that as motivation. They didn't have to choose us. They chose us" pic.twitter.com/ZQbDaHAv4q
Whether or not this is true is irrelevant to Finch’s message, though one can certainly question it. The Nuggets rested most of their players for the season finale and only played Nikola Jokic to allow him awards eligibility. They won anyway, but would have dropped to the No. 4 seed had they lost. In other words, if the Nuggets were trying to get the Timberwolves, they weren’t trying that hard.
The Timberwolves won’t care. They spent the entire series antagonizing Denver, and they kept at it even after the series was over. This is just them digging in a little bit harder and throwing more salt in the wound.
