In most seasons this game might have been decided before the tip.
The closing days of the regular season. One team competing for a lottery pick, the other for seeding in the upcoming NBA playoffs.
But this isn't normal. Since coach Chris Finch took over as Timberwolves coach the idea has been to compete to win rather than for lottery position. So Thursday's game with Denver – a team that entered the night seeded fourth in the Western Conference, just a game behind third-seeded L.A. Clippers – was entertaining.
"We're going to play 'em out to win,'' Finch said before the game.