The NBA granted one of its four new expansion teams to original owners Harvey Ratner and Marv Wolfenson,[6] leading to the establishment of the Timberwolves for the 1989 season.

[11] To overcome this obstacle, they made a significant trade for Latrell Sprewell, a 4-time All-Star guard, and Sam Cassell.

[12] These two players, along with the All-Star Kevin Garnett, played a crucial role in leading the Timberwolves to secure the number one seed in the Western Conference, marking a historic first for the franchise.

[14] Led by the newly drafted Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets finished with a 43–39 record, securing the eighth seed and marking their return to the playoffs for the first time since the 1995 season.

This win ended their thirteen-year postseason drought, eliminated the Nuggets, and marked their return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2003 season.

[20] To fill the void left by Connelly in the front office, the Nuggets promoted Calvin Booth, who had been recruited from the Timberwolves in 2017.

[3][21] Despite acquiring Rudy Gobert in the offseason and aiming for a championship, the Timberwolves faced significant struggles in the 2022 NBA season.

[23][24][25] On the other hand, the Nuggets excelled throughout the season, clinching the best record in the Western Conference at 53-29 for the first time in franchise history.

[36][37] The Timberwolves were off to a strong start in Denver, securing victories in the first two games with a defensive display and Anthony Edwards consistently scoring over 20 points in each match.

[40] In game six in Minneapolis, the Timberwolves delivered a dominant performance against the defending champions, ultimately emerging victorious with a resounding 115–70 scoreline.

For the Timberwolves, this victory marked the largest comeback (20 points) in game 7 history, eliminated the reigning champions Nuggets, and advanced them to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since the 2003 season.