For the Timberwolves in Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference Finals, the clock did not strike midnight. The handsome prince did not turn into a frog. Nor did their wicked sisters did not appear to return them to servitude. What happened in Minnesota’s 143-101 demolishing of the Oklahoma City Thunder was unexpected, stunning, and magical.
The burden still rests with the Wolves in their matchup with OKC tonight. This game is at least as big as the first foray in Minnesota, and some may say more important. It would take some of the home court advantage away from the Thunder while also proving to their fans, the NBA viewing public and more importantly to themselves that Game 3 was not a fluke and is sustainable.
Wolves Game 3: Dominant Team Performance
For Minnesota to defeat Oklahoma City tonight, they simply have to repeat what they did on Friday night. Their fans finally remembered that the home team was the sixth-best defensive team in the league this past season. The Wolves bench led by Terrence Shannon Jr. provided a spark similar to their many clutch performances in the regular season. And once again, Anthony (Ant) Edwards‘ star shone bright, and he reminded folks that he is one of the bigger stars in the NBA.
But it all starts with the defense. Minnesota proved to those who may have forgotten that they have their own brand of a smothering, swarming defense. Hounded by the pesky Wolves zone play, OKC missed 11 of its first 15 shots of the game and turned the ball over five times in the first six minutes of the game. Minnesota accomplished this by playing a more physical brand of basketball and alertly executing timely switches.
All of that, along with deploying a multitude of defenders against the newly minted NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), caused the Thunder star to finish the night with 14 points shooting 4-13 shooting from the field. And Ant, of course, was the linchpin behind the Wolves’ offensive avalanche. He scored a game-high 30 points and added nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
And he shot a blistering 5-8 from long distance, and the team overall shot 20-40 from three-point land, which was a marked improvement over Games 1 and 2. Julius Randle, benched in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s game, rebounded well to score 24 points. Shannon gave Minnesota some spark off the bench, scoring 15, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker popped in 12.
OKC Had Few Answers
The Thunder were run off the court immediately by the Wolves in Game 3. Minnesota led by 20 after a quarter, 31 at halftime, and pushed their lead to as high as 45 before cruising home to their 42-point victory. OKC committed 20 turnovers to Minnesota’s 10. And the Thunder were outrebounded by the Wolves 50-31, including 11-5 on the offensive boards. All told, Oklahoma City shot 35-86 from the field and 14-44 from beyond the arc.
And SGA’s running mates did not provide much support in the game. Jalen Williams was held to 13 points and did most of his damage from the free-throw line. Chet Holmgren only added 10, and Isaiah Hartenstein and Luguentz Dort could only muster six apiece. Regarding his team’s performance, OKC coach Mark Daigneault said this about the game the next day.
“Minnesota outplayed us thoroughly last night in every area of the game. Deserved to win clearly and that’s why they won in the fashion that they did.”
Wolves Task in Game 4
Obviously, a repeat performance by the Timberwolves in Game 4 would be ideal, but realistically, they can’t expect the Thunder to come out so flat two games in a row. For starters, Ant has to be Ant, and he has to deliver another All-Star performance. Randle has to continue to be that reliable second-scoring option and maintain his all-around strong game. They again must exhibit that tenacious defense that kept Oklahoma City off balance all Game on Friday. And the Wolves must continue to hit from downtown to prevent the potent OKC defense from jamming the paint like they did in the series’ first two games.
