Timberwolves Rout Thunder to Stay Alive in Series
After dropping Games One and Two to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Minnesota Timberwolves were in desperate need of a spark, and they found it undoubtedly. Minnesota delivered a statement win, blowing out the Thunder 143-101 to get back into the series. Anthony Edwards led the way with 30 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, while Julius Randle added 24 points and Terrence Shannon Jr. chipped in 15 off the bench, highlighted by a strong second quarter. The Thunder failed to get any player over the 15-point mark, and the 42-point loss marked their worst defeat of the season. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves' 143 points set a new franchise record for points scored in a playoff game.
Both teams traded baskets early, with Minnesota slightly ahead 9-8 before Edwards ignited a personal 10-2 run that sparked a dominant first half for the Timberwolves. Edwards poured in 16 first-quarter points, and Minnesota's team defense held Oklahoma City, statistically the best offense in the league, to just 14 points, their lowest first-quarter total of the season, building a commanding 20-point lead. With Edwards on the bench to start the second, the Timberwolves leaned on their depth. Shannon Jr. delivered nine points in four minutes, while Naz Reid, previously 0-for-12 in the series, hit both of his first-half three-point attempts. Jalen Williams was the lone bright spot for the Thunder, scoring 11 first-half points and keeping his team within some sort of reach down 72-41 at the break.
Second halves have defined this series. Despite Minnesota leading at halftime in Game One and trailing by just eight in Game Two, they lost both games by double digits. Early in the third quarter, it looked like history might repeat itself. Oklahoma City came out aggressive with an 11-2 burst, trimming the large deficit to 22 and forcing a quick Timberwolves timeout. However, that would be the Thunder’s last push of any sort. Out of the timeout, Minnesota erupted on a 30-4 run, fueled by the help of Randle, effectively putting the game out of reach by the end of the third, leading 107-70. Neither team played its starters in the fourth quarter, with the game well in hand. Shannon Jr. helped maintain Minnesota’s lead, while the Thunder took the opportunity to give their young talent valuable minutes. Ajay Mitchell and Dillon Jones both reached double figures, providing some sort of bright spot in an otherwise tough night for Oklahoma City.
This was a massive and much-needed response from Minnesota. From the start, they played with urgency and never gave Oklahoma City any hope of a comeback. Supported by a fired-up home crowd and a sharp defensive game plan from head coach Chris Finch, the Timberwolves looked the best they have all postseason. Finch made a notable adjustment by playing Rudy Gobert in a lot more aggressive coverage, bringing him higher on pick-and-rolls and switches to apply pressure, something we haven’t seen all season. Game Four tips off Monday at 8:30 p.m. EST in Minnesota. The question now is, can the Thunder adjust to this new defensive scheme, or will the Timberwolves stay one step ahead and keep Oklahoma City on their heels?
