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[Saba Sports News] After dropping the first two games of the series, the Minnesota Timberwolves responded in emphatic fashion, dismantling the Oklahoma City Thunder 143-101 in Game 3.
It was a dominant all-around performance, with Minnesota clicking on both ends of the floor while the Thunder struggled to find any answers.
The win not only put the Timberwolves back in the series—it also marked a franchise playoff record for most points scored in a single game.
Six Timberwolves players scored in double figures, led by Anthony Edwards, who stuffed the stat sheet with 30 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Off the bench, rookie Terrence Shannon Jr. provided a major spark, finishing with 15 points—outscoring Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in just 13 minutes of action.
After their strong efforts in Games 1 and 2, the Thunder may have underestimated the Timberwolves’ response. Now down 2-1 in the series, Minnesota must keep the pressure on heading into Game 4, while Oklahoma City will look to bounce back with a better effort.
Head coach Chris Finch was pleased with his team’s execution in Game 3 and outlined what fueled the turnaround.
“We were able to get out and play fast compared to the first two games,” Finch said. “We forced turnovers, made momentum plays early, and that really set the tone.”
A key adjustment came on the defensive end, where Minnesota ramped up its pressure on Gilgeous-Alexander. After torching the Wolves in the first two matchups, SGA was held to just 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting. Finch credited the effort and discipline of his squad.
“We were just more aggressive everywhere,” Finch said. “We cleaned things up around him, didn’t foul, and our competitiveness was at an all-time high. He’s a phenomenal player, and he won’t have many nights like this, so we’ll take it and move on to Monday.”
In addition to containing Gilgeous-Alexander, the Timberwolves also prevented the rest of the Thunder from finding any offensive rhythm.
With the series back in play, Minnesota knows the formula: stay aggressive, play with energy, and make life uncomfortable for the Thunder. Game 3 showed they’re more than capable of turning the tide.