Head coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves is trying to determine which of his teams will show up for Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals in Minneapolis tonight. Will it be the sharpshooting, tIght defensive team that frustrated Victor Wembanyama and the rest of his San Antonio Spurs teammates in Minnesota’s Game 1 victory?

Or will it be the team’s alter ego that reared its ugly head in Wednesday night’s Game 2? That version couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn in the first half nor keep possession of the ball as the Spurs went on to decimate the Wolves 133-95. Finch and the Minnesota faithful hope to see the former version of their team as they tip off at 8:30 pm at Target Center.

Finch was Smiling in Game 1

Finch and the Wolves were pleasantly surprised to have their star, Anthony (Ant) Edwards, in the lineup for the series opener. The day before the game, he had been limited to shooting free throws after practice, still favoring his hyperextended knee. Edwards rested extensively during the first three quarters, but he and Julius Randle pushed the Wolves to a 14-2 run to start the final quarter, forcing San Antonio to play catch-up for the rest of the game.

And the Spurs gamely fought back, only to see guard Julian Champagnie’s last-second three-point attempt clang off the rim in a 104-102 Minnesota victory. Ant was the inspiration for the victory, but Randle was the star, knocking down one perimeter jump shot after another and muscling Wembanyama to the point of frustration. Randle finished with 21 points and forced the Spurs’ big man outside of his comfort zone as he missed all eight of his three-point attempts.

After the game, Finch was upset that none of Wembanyama’s playoff-record 12 blocks were whistled for goaltending. With this, he was sending a message to the referees and the league and perhaps playing a few mind games with Victor.

What a Difference a Game Makes

So, with the wind at their backs, the Timberwolves prepared for Game 2 of the series with upset number two on their minds. As if they needed additional prodding, Ant reminded them that as long as the team didn’t come out flat in the first quarter, they had a good chance to leave San Antonio with a 2-0 series lead. But flat they were, shooting 29 percent from the field and committing 11 turnovers in the first half while scoring only 35 points, handing the Spurs a 25-point lead at the break.

And the stars of Game 1 were the biggest disappointments of the night as Randle turned the ball over five times, with Ant close behind with four giveaways. The Wolves were outrebounded 55-43 for the night, and San Antonio outscored Minnesota 29-5 in transition. Regarding the loss, Finch told the team after the game, “I told them we just got punked.”

The Show Must Go On

Finch and Wolves fans hope for a strong start for the team tonight and a return to the hard-nosed style of play they exhibited in Game 1. Randle, Naz Reid, and Jaden McDaniels need to once again make life uneasy for Wembanyama and force him outside to attempt 3’s, thereby keeping him away from the paint. And the team as a whole has to lay down their shots early and not allow the Spurs to carry the momentum again.

The task won’t be easy, as San Antonio came into the series as the prohibitive favorites, and only tenacity and a strong will guide Finch and Minnesota to their third Western Conference Finals series. Here’s to you, Timberwolves. Good luck tonight!