Timberwolves Deliver Dominant Performance in Game 3 Victory Over Thunder
The Minnesota Timberwolves made a powerful statement on Saturday, crushing the Oklahoma City Thunder 143-101 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. Anthony Edwards led the charge with a game-high 30 points, despite not even playing in the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault had anticipated a strong response from the Timberwolves, who were down 2-0 in the series. However, his team was unprepared for the intensity Minnesota brought from the opening tip. The Timberwolves dominated every phase of the game, with Edwards setting the tone early. After the Thunder opened the game with four quick points, Minnesota surged ahead, outscoring them 34-10 to end the first quarter, leading by 20.
“That’s what we need him to do, and that’s when he does it, it takes us to another level,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said about Edwards. “He was all over the place, making steals and setting the defensive tone for us.”
The Timberwolves’ offensive assault didn’t slow down in the second quarter. Finch made a surprising move, inserting Terrence Shannon Jr., who immediately delivered, scoring nine points in the first 4:12 of the period. Shannon’s fast-paced, attacking style fit perfectly with the Wolves’ offensive flow. By halftime, Minnesota had put up 72 points, their most ever in a playoff half, and led by 31 points.
The Thunder briefly tried to fight back in the third quarter, opening with an 11-2 run. But Minnesota quickly responded with a 12-0 run of their own, pushing the lead back to 37 points by the end of the quarter. With the game out of reach, the Thunder conceded, and the Wolves cruised to the win.
Edwards was spectacular, finishing with 30 points on 12-for-17 shooting, along with nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals, while registering a +36 plus-minus. He didn’t even play in the fourth quarter, as the game was well in hand. Julius Randle bounced back from a tough Game 2 performance, contributing 24 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Shannon finished with 15 points in just 13 minutes, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 12 points off the bench. The Timberwolves shot a blistering 57% from the field.
Defensively, the Timberwolves shut down Oklahoma City, particularly MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Gilgeous-Alexander was held to just 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting, along with six assists and two rebounds. The Thunder shot just 41% overall and struggled from beyond the arc, making only 32% of their three-point attempts.
This game was the Timberwolves’ most complete performance of the season, arriving at the perfect moment with their backs against the wall. The win not only pulled them back into the series but also sparked excitement among the home crowd, with chants of “Wolves in 6” echoing through Target Center.
“It’s one game,” Finch reminded. “They still have a 2-1 lead. We’ve got to come out and do it all over again on Monday.”
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