Remember the dread among Timberwolves fans when they drew Kevin Durant and the hyper-talented Phoenix Suns in the first round?
Remember the angst when the Wolves fell behind the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic, the best player in the world, in the conference semifinals?
Turns out the greatest challenge to the NBA's top-ranked defense may have arrived in the Western Conference finals.
The Wolves smothered Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in a first-round sweep.
They announced their presence as championship contenders by winning a Game 7 in Denver.
Wednesday night, they transitioned from defending great scorers to trying to ascertain the location of illusionists.