Timberwolves' Jaden McDaniels: Efficient in Game 3 defeat
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McDaniels contributed 15 points (6-8 FG, 3-4 3Pt), one rebound and one steal over 32 minutes during Sunday's 116-107 loss to Dallas in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.
McDaniels hasn't been getting enough offensive touches compared to how good he's been in the series, as the Timberwolves continue to rely on the struggling duo of Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns. At the same time, McDaniels has scored 15 or more points in two of three games in the series. He's shooting 55.2 percent from the field in the three losses against Dallas, and it wouldn't be shocking if he gets more touches on offense in Game 4 on Tuesday.
Timberwolves' Jaden McDaniels: Leads Minnesota in Game 1 loss
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McDaniels finished Wednesday's 108-105 loss to the Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals with 24 points (9-15 FG, 6-9 3Pt), four rebounds, three assists and one steal in 39 minutes.
McDaniels carried the Timberwolves in scoring and delivered another impressive outing, as he seems to have carried the momentum of the series against the Nuggets into this matchup. McDaniels has now scored at least 20 points in three straight games -- a personal-best mark -- while shooting 68.6 percent from the field, so it wouldn't be shocking if he has a more prominent role as a scoring weapon in Game 2 on Friday.
McDaniels racked up 23 points (7-10 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 6-7 FT), six rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals across 40 minutes during Sunday's 98-90 victory over the Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
McDaniels scored 20-plus points for the second straight game, helping the Timberwolves to an impressive victory in Game 7. Although his offensive output can be inconsistent, he has been a little more reliable during the postseason. Coming up against the Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals, McDaniels is going to have to maintain his offensive mindset to contend with the likes of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Timberwolves' Jaden McDaniels: Excels in Game 6 victory
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McDaniels notched 21 points (8-10 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal over 30 minutes during Thursday's 115-70 victory over Denver in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
McDaniels is not known for his scoring ability and often gets recognition for his defensive work. Still, he stood out when it mattered the most in this series and finished as Minnesota's second-highest scorer. McDaniels is not expected to hover around the 20-point mark regularly going forward, but this was an excellent showing in a game during which his team needed him to step up. In fact, this was McDaniels' second-best scoring output in the current playoff run, as he scored 25 points in the Game 2 win over the Suns in the first round.
Timberwolves' Jaden McDaniels: Erupts for team-high 25 points
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McDaniels ended Tuesday's 105-93 win over the Suns in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals with 25 points (10-17 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and one steal across 41 minutes.
McDaniels shone in the victory, leading all scorers with 25 points. Known for his defensive abilities, it was on the offensive end that he did his damage. He was part of a balanced effort by the Timberwolves, taking down the Suns to establish a 2-0 series lead.
