Every NBA team’s greatest playoff moment

CHICAGO - JUNE 7: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls matches up against Karl Malone #32 of the Utah Jazz in Game Three of the 1998 NBA Finals at the United Center on June 5, 1998 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won 96-54. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1998 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Minnesota Timberwolves: Going on a run (2004 NBA Playoffs)

The sad truth of the matter is that Minnesota Timberwolves fans might have forgotten what it’s like to see their team in the playoffs at this point. After missing out again in the 2016-17 season, it’s now been 13 seasons since they tasted playoff basketball in Minneapolis. That’s obviously an exceptionally brutal stretch, especially for a team that’s had plenty of talent in those 13 years. They may get back there soon, but for now, their laurels rest on the last time they were in the postseason, the 2004 NBA Playoffs.

Kevin Garnett was still a member of the Timberwolves at that point and he was at the peak of his powers. He captured the NBA MVP award for his regular season exploits, but he wasn’t trying to let it die there. Instead, he was trying to put the Wolves on his back and carry them through the postseason. What’s crazy is that he was almost able to do so, and it was incredibly fun to witness.

After earning the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, the Timberwolves began the playoffs with the Denver Nuggets. Garnett just straight-up eviscerated the Nuggets in the 4-1 series win, posting averages of 25.8 points, 14.8 rebounds, seven assists, one steal and two blocks per game. The Timberwolves legend wasn’t done there as he then helped Minnesota gut out a seven-game series win over the Sacramento Kings. In that series, Garnett went off just the same to the tune of 23.9 points, 15.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 3.4 blocks per game.

Ultimately it was a Western Conference Finals matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers that spelled doom for Minnesota, though Garnett left it all on the floor. In the 4-2 loss in the series, the big man still averaged 23.7 points, 13.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.

On that Timberwolves team, Garnett’s second-leading man was Latrell Sprewell, followed by role players (at the time at least) like Wally Szczerbiak and Sam Cassell. So while they were the top seed, that Garnett was able to carry that team as far as he did is truly remarkable. And it’s a playoff moment that Timberwolves fans will have to hang on to until Karl-Anthony Towns and the current team in Minnesota can fight their way back to the postseason.

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