2003/04: Hoping to end their 7 years of bad luck in the playoffs the Timberwolves strengthened their team by acquiring Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassell, and Michael Olowokandi. However incorporating the new Wolves into the lineup was difficult at first as the Wolves only managed a 9-8 record through the end of November. In December the Wolves began to gel losing just twice as they became serious contenders for the Midwest Division Title. With Garnett putting up a double-double almost every night the Timberwolves were among the best team's in the NBA all year as KG captured his first MVP by 24.2 points and 13.9 rebounds per game, as the Timberwolves captured the best overall record in the Western Conference with a franchise best 58-24 record. However through success would be measured by their performance in the playoffs. After 7-years of tough playoff opponents the T-Wolves finally had home court in a series and took advantage winning the first 2 games against the Denver Nuggets at home. After dropping Game 3 on the road the Timberwolves took a 3-1 series lead by holding off a last minute run by Nuggets for an 84-82 win. The T-Wolves would finally reach the 2nd round as they would go on to close the series in 5 games with a 102-91 victory. Things would get tougher in the 2nd Round as the Wolves faced the Sacramento Kings a tested playoff team seeking to finally make the Finals. The Timberwolves would look shaky in Game 1 as the Kings won in Minnesota 104-98. After rebounding to take Game 2 the Wolves relied on their MVP to retake control of the series as Kevin Garnett scored 15 points in the 4th Quarter as the Wolves overcame a 10-point deficit beginning the final period to force overtime where Garnett's shot with 10.8 seconds left was the difference in a 114-1113 victory. After losing Game 4 the series returned to Minnesota where the Wolves beat the Kings again 86-74. However after a poor performance in Game 6 the T-Wolves would find themselves facing their first ever 7th game. As fate would happen it fell on Kevin Garnett's 28th birthday. Garnett again and again showed why he was the league's MVP scoring a game high 32 points while 21 boards as the Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference Finals with a 83-80 victory. In the Western Conference Finals the Timberwolves faced off against the team that once called the Minneapolis home the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were supposed to win from the start f the season as with 4 sure things Hall of Famers they were the storyline of the entire season. In Game 1 the Lakers drew first blood with a 97-89 victory. After rebounding to take Game 2 the Wolves needed to retake control of the season by winning in Los Angeles. However the Lakers would take both games, leaving the Wolves down 3 games to 1. The Wolves would not go down without a fight as they took Game 5 at home as Garnett scored 30 points for the first time in the series. However in the end the Lakers proved too strong and too playoff tested as they eliminated the Wolves in Game 6 with a 96-90 victory.