IGLS, Austria (AP) — Francesco Friedrich of Germany won another IBSF four-man bobsled race on Sunday, the 100th victory of his career in either World Cup or world championship competitions.
He now has driven to 35 victories in World Cup four-man races, along with 51 wins in World Cup two-man events, eight two-man world championships and six four-man world championships.
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Francesco Friedrich, Matthias Sommer, Alexander Schueller and Felix Straub, of Germany, start their first run in the 4-man bobsleigh at the Bobsleigh World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Francesco Friedrich, Matthias Sommer, Alexander Schueller and Felix Straub, of Germany, pose after their second run in the 4-man bobsleigh at the Bobsleigh World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Francesco Friedrich, Matthias Sommer, Alexander Schueller and Felix Straub, of Germany, pose after winning the 4-man bobsleigh at the Bobsleigh World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Francesco Friedrich, Matthias Sommer, Alexander Schueller and Felix Straub, of Germany, finish their second run in the 4-man bobsleigh at the Bobsleigh World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Not included in that total: four golds — two in two-man, two in four-man — in Olympic competition.
Friedrich's dominance is unmatched in bobsled history. He has medaled in 31 of his last 32 World Cup four-man races and 60 of his last 62 World Cup two-man races; he took silver in two-man at Igls on Saturday.
In his World Cup career, Friedrich has medaled in 142 of 197 races.
Brad Hall of Britain drove to the silver in the four-man race Sunday, and Johannes Lochner of Germany was third. Frank del Duca drove to a 10th-place finish for the U.S.
In the two-woman race later Sunday, Germany swept the medals with Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi winning, Kim Kalicki and Leonie Fiebig taking second and Lisa Buckwitz and Neele Schuten finishing third.
The top U.S. sled was driven by Elana Meyers Taylor and pushed by Jasmine Jones, finishing fourth.
At Winterberg, Germany, Sunday was a double-gold day for Jonas Mueller of Austria, who won a World Cup men's singles race and then was part of his nation's winning entry in the team relay.
Mueller held off Max Langenhan of Germany for the men's singles win, with Nico Gleirscher of Austria placing third. Jonny Gustafson was the top American finisher, placing 20th.
In the team relay, Austria's team of Mueller, women's singles slider Madeleine Egle, the men’s doubles team of Juri Gatt and Riccardo Schoepf and the women’s doubles team of Selina Egle and Lara Kipp took first. Germany was second and Italy was third.
The U.S. was fourth in the team relay, despite Emily Sweeney getting the fastest split among all women's singles racers in the field. It capped a strong weekend for Sweeney, who won a bronze in the singles race Saturday.
Bobsled: World Cup women's monobob Friday at St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Luge: World Cup women’s doubles, men’s doubles and women’s singles Saturday at Oberhof, Germany.
Skeleton: World Cup season finales for men’s, women’s and mixed team Feb. 7 at Lillehammer, Norway.
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Francesco Friedrich, Matthias Sommer, Alexander Schueller and Felix Straub, of Germany, start their first run in the 4-man bobsleigh at the Bobsleigh World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Francesco Friedrich, Matthias Sommer, Alexander Schueller and Felix Straub, of Germany, pose after their second run in the 4-man bobsleigh at the Bobsleigh World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Francesco Friedrich, Matthias Sommer, Alexander Schueller and Felix Straub, of Germany, pose after winning the 4-man bobsleigh at the Bobsleigh World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Francesco Friedrich, Matthias Sommer, Alexander Schueller and Felix Straub, of Germany, finish their second run in the 4-man bobsleigh at the Bobsleigh World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves had plenty of lulls during the regular season, seemingly coasting at times while struggling to recapture the form that fueled them to consecutive Western Conference finals appearances over the last two years.
The postseason switch sure got flipped against the rival Denver Nuggets, as the players promised all along. The energy and urgency was never greater than in the series-clinching Game 6 victory on Thursday, when the determined Timberwolves shook off the absence of their three best guards and beat the Nuggets 110-98.
“Still part of our growth,” coach Chris Finch said. “We’ve been really good with the high moments. Our consistency sometimes throughout the season isn’t always there, which we don’t really like about ourselves, but we know we have it in ourselves to meet these moments.”
Jaden McDaniels clearly does.
Nobody on the Timberwolves embodies the mercurial nature of this close-knit but often-moody team than McDaniels, the sixth-year forward who made a name for himself in this series.
Tirelessly chasing All-Star guard Jamal Murray around screens and everywhere he tried to go along the perimeter, limiting him to 4-for-17 shooting in Game 6, McDaniels did even more on the offensive end.
With a big chunk of the team's shot creation missing due to injuries to Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo and Ayo Dosunmu, McDaniels went 13 for 25 from the floor for 32 points with 10 rebounds.
“What I was the most proud about him was just his emotional control, being able to stay poised, not overreact to adversity, calls or missed shots, or mistakes,” teammate Rudy Gobert said. "He stayed present, and he stepped up big time when we needed him the most, so I’m really, really proud of him.”
McDaniels tossed even more spice into this well-developed rivalry early in the series with his blanket “ bad defenders ” jab at the opponent, and he made no secret of the motivation he gets from seeing “Denver” or “Nuggets” sewed on the other team's jersey.
“The only thing I said to him, after he had made his comments, was, ‘Now it’s time to back it up,’” Finch said. “And talking doesn’t matter. You've got to go do it. I knew he was going to put the effort in, so he was ready for it, and he owned it, and he responded.”
McDaniels later irked Nuggets star Nikola Jokic by taking an uncontested layup in the closing seconds of Minnesota's blowout win in Game 4, sparking a brief shoving match.
McDaniels had his worst game of the series in the loss in Game 5 on Monday, when he was booed often by the Denver crowd, but he responded on his home court with one of the best games of his career.
With the Timberwolves trying to put away the game, McDaniels delivered the dagger shot — swishing his signature mid-range pull-up to give them a seven-point lead with 1:06 to play. Then he intercepted a harried pass by Jokic to get the ball back and start a parade to the line.
Jokic gave McDaniels a hug after the final horn, a sign of respect from the three-time NBA MVP despite the irritation he caused all series long.
“I’m just happy it’s over, happy we were able to come out on top,” McDaniels said. “Stuff was said. I’m just happy we were all able to prove our point, get the win and move on to the next round.”
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have been waiting. They'll host Game 1 on Monday.
“I figured the real winner of this series was going to be San Antonio, because both these teams were going to take a lot of pieces out of each other, and did,” Finch said. “So I’m not sure what we have left standing there before we go down there.”
Even if they're short-handed and overmatched, the Timberwolves are a good bet to put up a strong fight.
“You have to believe that you can win, no matter what,” Gobert said. "Obviously we’re missing some pretty important players, right? But no matter who’s out there, we believe in our defense. We believe in trusting one another. Anything’s possible.”
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Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) celebrates a basket against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Timberwolves co-owner Alex Rodriguez celebrates during the second half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Denver Nuggets, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jaylen Clark (22) get into an altercation during the second half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo, left, looks on during the second half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Denver Nuggets, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) celebrates his three-point basket against the Denver Nuggets during the second half of Game 6 of a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
