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Jaden McDaniels gave the Minnesota Timberwolves exactly the kind of career-high performance they needed in Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets, and the NBA world noticed.

With Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo and Ayo Dosunmu all injured and unavailable, McDaniels was not just a complementary two-way forward. He became one of Minnesota’s primary answers in a closeout game, attacking Denver’s defense, guarding Jamal Murray and helping the Timberwolves stay in position to finish the series at Target Center.

McDaniels tied his career high of 32 points, adding in 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals as Minnesota eliminated the Denver Nuggets 4-2, winning Game 6, 110-98.

“We all put the work in, so it’s what we expect,” McDaniels told ESPN after the game.

That was enough to turn McDaniels into one of the biggest stories of the night.

The Timberwolves’ official X account posted, “TWO WORDS. SAY IT.” The obvious answer for Minnesota fans was the same phrase McDaniels had put out there before the game: Wolves in six.

Dane Moore of Blue Wire added, “I’ve never seen talkin s*** backed up like this.”

And The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie wrote that McDaniels was “painting a masterpiece,” highlighting his ability to attack heavy closeouts in straight lines while also keeping Murray from getting comfortable off screens.

Jaden McDaniels Hit His Career High vs. the Nuggets

This was not a normal offensive burden for McDaniels.

The Timberwolves entered Game 6 without Edwards, DiVincenzo and Dosunmu, a brutal hit to their shot creation and guard depth. Reuters reported before the game that Dosunmu was ruled out with a sore right calf, joining Edwards and DiVincenzo on Minnesota’s unavailable list. Dosunmu had scored 43 points in Game 4 after Edwards and DiVincenzo went down, making his absence another major loss for the Wolves.

That changed the math for McDaniels.

Minnesota still had Julius Randle, Naz Reid, Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert, but McDaniels’ scoring mattered because Denver could not simply load up on one creator. Every straight-line drive, second-chance finish and midrange touch from McDaniels forced the Nuggets to defend the full floor.

His performance also came after a tense stretch in the series. McDaniels was involved in the late Game 4 sequence that sparked frustration from Jokic, and he was loudly booed in Game 5 in Denver. Reuters noted that McDaniels scored 13 points in that Game 5 loss, while Minnesota committed 25 turnovers as Denver stayed alive.

Game 6 flipped the tone. McDaniels was no longer just a defensive irritant. He was one of the players carrying Minnesota’s offense.

Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu Injuries Meant Timberwolves Needed Jaden McDaniels’ Stats

The Timberwolves’ injury situation is what made McDaniels’ night more than a good box-score line.

Edwards’ absence removed Minnesota’s best downhill scorer and late-clock option. DiVincenzo’s injury took away shooting, spacing and secondary playmaking. Dosunmu’s calf issue erased the player who had just produced one of the most important games of the series, scoring a career-high 43 points in Game 4 as Minnesota took a 3-1 lead.

That left McDaniels in a harder spot than usual. He had to keep his normal defensive workload while also becoming a steadier offensive piece.

That is why Vecenie’s reaction stood out. The praise was not just about points. It was about McDaniels punishing Denver’s defensive choices. When the Nuggets closed out hard, he drove. When Murray tried to work off screens, McDaniels made him uncomfortable. When Minnesota needed a stabilizing possession, he gave the Wolves a real option instead of a bailout.

The biggest question left after such a stellar performance will be does he have to do it again? Or when will Anthony Edwards return?