Minneapolis ? The Kings haven’t won a Game 7 since moving from Kansas City to Sacramento; the Minnesota Timberwolves never have played in one.

And both teams realize chances like this are rare.

The Kings and the Timberwolves play tonight in Minnesota for the right to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals.

“Everything is magnified,” Kings forward Chris Webber said. “You can lose a game by one point, so you don’t want to let a point slip away.”

The Kings’ past playoff failures extend beyond seventh games. Since moving to Sacramento in 1985, the Kings are 4-7 in elimination games, including Sunday’s victory over the Wolves, and 0-2 in Game 7s.

Their first Game 7 was in 2002 when they lost at home in the conference finals to the Lakers. Last year, they forced a seventh game against Dallas in the second round but lost to the Mavericks on the road.

The last Game 7 victory in franchise history was in 1981, when Kansas City beat Phoenix in the Western Conference semifinals.

Still, the Kings have more experience in big playoff games than the Wolves.

“What you’ve done in the past has no bearing on what’s going to happen,” Wolves coach Flip Saunders said. “If you’re going to count on that, that they’ve been in seventh games, yeah, but they lost both and that’s not a good experience.

“Even though you’ve been there, I think it boils down to a new situation, a new game.”

It definitely is a new situation for the Wolves, who until this season never had been past the first round. In 1998, Minnesota stretched Seattle to five games in a best-of-five series and lost on the road.

But the stakes are exponentially higher this time — this will be the most important game in the Timberwolves’ 15-year history.

“We’ve got to step up because there’s no tomorrow,” Minnesota guard Sam Cassell said.

Cassell needs to step up more than most. After scoring a combined 59 points in the first two games, he’s been ineffective while fighting back spasms.

In the last four games, Cassell is 16-for-45 from the field (1-for-10 on three-pointers) for 43 points. He’s committed 11 turnovers and 22 fouls.

Cassell’s lack of composure also has been an issue. Always one to argue with officials, Cassell was hit with a technical after picking up his sixth personal foul in Game 6 while Minnesota was attempting a comeback.

Cassell, a two-time NBA champion with Houston, has been Minnesota’s best fourth-quarter player this postseason, and the Wolves need him calm and as close to healthy as possible.

Asked what was hurting him the most, Cassell answered: “Everything.”

“I’ll find a way,” he said. “I’ve been in situations like this before.”

The Kings also will need a big game from their point guard if they want a chance to win.

At his best, Mike Bibby has penetrated Minnesota’s defense, drawn multiple defenders, created shots for his teammates and drained crucial jumpers.

By the same token, the offense has been stagnant whenever the Wolves have contained Bibby or gotten him in foul trouble.

“We’ve been there before,” Bibby said. “This is a team that someone always steps up.”

Now would be a good time for that.

Peja Stojakovic didn’t start finding his rhythm until Game 6, and Webber and Doug Christie have been inconsistent. And with Anthony Peeler suspended for elbowing Kevin Garnett in the face on Sunday, Sacramento’s bench is very thin past backup center Brad Miller.

“You’ve got to play with poise,” Kings coach Rick Adelman said. “I find there’s always one or two people you don’t expect who come in and play well. I think anyone on our team can make a difference.”