Mike Conley injured his Achilles in the waning minutes of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 115-107 Game 4 loss last Sunday. He missed Game 5 and said he couldn’t walk two days before Minnesota’s 115-70 Game 6 win on Thursday.
“Had a day of treatment yesterday and was able to get to my toes a little bit more,” Conley said after Game 6. “This morning, from that to being able to really jump, move, and run a little bit better. That’s all I needed.”
The Timberwolves missed Conley in Game 5. In Game 6, he was 5-of-9 from the floor and 3-of-6 from three, finishing with 13 points. He also had a team-high five assists. However, Conley’s value goes beyond counting stats. When he runs point, Anthony Edwards can play off the ball and focus on scoring. Conley, 36, also calms the team in crucial moments while fostering a sense of urgency throughout the playoffs because he may not have many play runs left.
“We got Mike Conley back,” Edwards said when a reporter asked him what led the Wolves to respond so effectively to their Game 6 loss. “That was it.”
Edwards is oversimplifying things a little. Jaden McDaniels exploded for 21 points off the bench and played sound defense. Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert held Nikola Jokic to 22 points. Jamal Murray was 4 of 18 from the field for 10 points. Edwards finished with a team-high 27 points; Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker combined for 19 points off the bench.
Still, if Edwards is Minnesota’s engine, Conley is its rudder.
“Mike means everything for us,” said Chris Finch. “Just experience. Shot making. Unbelievable next to Anthony in terms of being able to set him up, play off of him, be in his ear all of the time. Smart defender. Just everything you want in an experienced, veteran point guard.”
Conley might not be the spry 20-something he was with the Grit N Grind Memphis Grizzlies. However, he’s made up in guile what he’s lost in foot speed. He manipulates time in moments when things are speeding up on players, slowing their heart rate when things get frantic.
“Mike is always good for us, whether he’s running the show or tonight, you see he was aggressive,” said McDaniels. “That’s the Mike we need. Just making shots and then making the other team guard all of us. We’re so versatile.”
Conley also managed himself using his veteran experience. He knew his limitations and how to maximize his ability even though he wasn’t 100%.
“I told myself that before the game, I’ve been there before,” said Conley. “Maybe that was a lesson learned for me on how to adjust my game for a game like this. I tried to play at a different pace…. I think it helped set the stage for tonight.”
However, Conley is trying to experience something new on Sunday night. Conley is in his 18th NBA season, but he’s never won a Game 7.
“I haven’t won one yet, so I’m hoping this is that, you know what I mean? It’s time,” he said. “Game 7s are the best. You get to experience an environment, experience a moment similar to a March Madness when it’s win or go home. Anything can happen.
“It didn’t matter how much we won by tonight or how much they won by in the last three games. It’s, what can you do tonight? How can you win? And you’re going to get everybody’s best shot. Everybody’s going to be ready to go. It’s a super fun game to be a part of.”
Regardless of how he does it, Conley will play a pivotal role in the do-or-die game in Denver. Rudy Gobert played with Conley in Utah, and Gobert said he jokingly told him that he could never leave him again after Game 5.
“I just know everything he does for us, as a person and also on the court as a leader,” said Gobert. “What he does is contagious. Making the right play for his teammates, the intensity that he brings defensively, and the focus that he brings every single day in practice, it’s something that is invaluable for our team.”
“I don’t know what he’s talking about,” Conley said with a smile. “Obviously, I wanted to play [in the] last game. Just couldn’t move at all. Tonight, it was a no-brainer. I was gonna try to find a way. We’re just better when we’re a complete team…. Now we get a chance for a Game 7 in Denver, and we’ll be ready to go.”
Conley couldn’t walk on Tuesday and played on Thursday. Finch is coaching from the second row because he injured his knee in Game 4 against the Phoenix Suns. Edwards fell hard in Game 6 against Denver and played through it. Everyone’s battling something because they know they have an opportunity to do something unique. The Timberwolves are on the verge of making the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2004, and Conley can win a Game 7 for the first time in his career.
