The Minnesota Timberwolves seemed to be on the verge of upsetting the defending champions after taking a 2-0 series lead over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals. Denver bounced back, however, and the Nuggets now hold a 3-2 lead heading into Game 6. With the Timberwolves' season on the line, guard Mike Conley is dealing with an injury.
Conley is the only player listed on the Timberwolves' injury report. He has been battling a right soleus strain. Minnesota features plenty of talent with Anthony Edwards leading the way. Nevertheless, Conley's veteran presence has played an important role in the team's success throughout the 2023-24 campaign.
Minnesota needs a win to avoid elimination in Game 6 at home. Denver currently holds all of the momentum in the series. Playing at home will help the Timberwolves' chances of pulling off the upset, though.
So is Mike Conley playing in Game 6 vs. the Nuggets on Thursday night?
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Mike Conley's injury status for Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Game 6
Conley is expected to return for Game 6, according to Shams Charania. The veteran guard missed Game 5 with the injury.
At 36 years old, Conley may not be the player he once was. Still, he offers enough production to impact a winning team. And as mentioned earlier, veteran leadership in a playoff series is of the utmost importance.
The 2023-24 season was Conley's first full campaign in Minnesota. He averaged 11.4 points per game on 45.7 percent field goal and 44.2 percent three-point shooting. Conley added 5.9 assists and 1.2 steals per outing.
In the 2024 NBA playoffs, Conley has averaged 11.3 points on 40 percent field goal and 37.5 percent three-point shooting. He is also recording 7.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
In 2023-24, the Timberwolves went 53-23 with Conley on the floor. They went just 3-3 in games he missed, per StatMuse.
Again, Conley is not the best player on the Timberwolves, but he obviously impacts winning. His contributions led to a two-year, $21 million contract extension this season. Conley had nothing but praise for the Timberwolves when discussing his deal.
“This organization is headed in the right direction,” Conley said in February, via Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “It’s got good people leading the way, people with great intentions trying to build a team that can compete for years to come. Give fans something to be excited about. Organizations like this you don’t want to pass up on.”
Conley has been impressed with the Timberwolves and Minnesota has been impressed with Conley. It has been a good relationship overall to say the least.
Luckily when it comes to the question of whether or not Mike Conley is playing in Game 6 vs. the Nuggets, the answer is that he will suit up in a do-or-die game.
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