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ALEX Rodriguez may have been the most hyped man in the Ball Arena as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets.
The Timberwolves minority owner, 48, was courtside for the series-clinching 98-90 victory that set up a clash with the Dallas Mavericks.
TNT Sports cameras cut to the baseball legend and his celebrations.
“Let’s f**king go,” he appeared to say.
Rodriguez was later seen showing off a custom handshake with Timberwolves standout Anthony Edwards.
The superstar put up just four points in the first half but finished with 16 in a comeback win over the defending NBA champions.
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“There’s more ways to win the basketball game when you’re just not an offensive player,” he said.
“I’m not one-dimensional. I’m not just a guy who can score. I’m a guy who — whoever their best guard is, I can go lock him down.
"I feel like I did that on Jamal [Murray] in the fourth quarter — in the third quarter and fourth quarter — and that’s what turned the game around.”
Minnesota trailed by 20 points during the second half but will now take their place alongside Dallas in the Western Conference finals.
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"My matchup's gonna be Kyrie, so that's gonna be fun," Edwards, 22, added. "We're gonna see what I can do vs. him."
During the crucial matchup, Shaquille O'Neal was absent from the Inside the NBA set.
NBA legend Vince Carter took his place at the desk alongside Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson, and Charles Barkley.
Shaq gave no reason for his disappearance.
And fans were questioning why he wasn't available.
"Shaq taking all this time off man," one said.
2024 NBA Draft order - lottery picks
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- Atlanta Hawks
- Washington Wizards
- Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn)
- San Antonio Spurs
- Detroit Pistons
- Charlotte Hornets
- Portland Trail Blazers
- San Antonio Spurs (via Toronto)
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Utah Jazz
- Chicago Bulls
- Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston)
- Sacramento Kings
- Portland Trail Blazers (via Golden State)
"Ayo yall notice Shaq is not on Inside the NBA tonight wassup with that," another added.
"Why is Shaq missing again," a third commented.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics will face the Indiana Pacers.
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Boston is the favorite to go all the way this season after becoming the first team to seal a spot in the Finals.
The Timberwolves are next with Indiana and Dallas expected to struggle.