MINNEAPOLIS — Rudy Gobert felt like a proud father as he watched the Timberwolves dismantle the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets on Monday night.

This was true in the literal sense because Gobert cradled his son, born earlier that day, as he watched Game 2 on TV back in the Twin Cities. But he also felt a dad's satisfaction as his teammates harassed and frustrated the Nuggets with one of the finest defensive performances in NBA playoff history.

Ah, kids. They grow up so fast.

"I had a little bit of emotion at the end because it felt like it was something special," Gobert said.

The defense the Wolves put on display, the first half in particular, was breathtakingly relentless and ruthless. They swarmed the Nuggets as if the game was being played eight-on-five.

They attacked like Mike Tyson in his prime bolting from his corner at opening bell. The Wolves finished with 12 blocks and 11 steals while forcing 16 turnovers.

The Nuggets looked panicked. They whined to officials. Their body language screamed, "Help!"

It was a masterclass that had legends of the game gushing.

"This is one of the best defensive teams I've ever seen. Ever," Charles Barkley said on TNT.

"This is the defensive version of what the Warriors did for offense when the league wasn't ready! Defense that sells tickets!?" Kevin Garnett wrote on X about his former team.

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