Down 0-2 against the top team in the West, Game 3 was a must-win for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fortunately, at home at the Target Center, the Wolves had the support of their home fans tonight, and it surely played a hand in their convincing 41-point victory against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the OKC Thunder.
The final result was due to several variables, which included the Thunder shooting just 40.7% from the field. Meanwhile, Minnesota shot well for the entire game, good enough to drop 126 points over four quarters (57.3% shooting). Anthony Edwards (who stayed up watching film after Game 1) was the star of the show with 30 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, while Julius Randle finished with 24 points, four rebounds, and three assists on 60.0% shooting. It was an impressive response for the Timberwolves after losing two straight, and it will be remembered as one of their most important wins of the season.
On social media, fans were struggling to believe their eyes at first, but it wasn't long before they came to recognize the dominant performance from the Timberwolves.
"I've never seen an NBA team leading by 40 points in a playoff game or any NBA game," wrote one fan, in shock at the scoreboard.
Overall, it was a well-executed game for Minnesota, but fans were most impressed with their intensity and effort, which was on display all night long.
"The Timberwolves are playing like a team that has their whole season on the line tonight," posted one fan on X. "The effort. The intensity. It's all there. Something the Knicks didn't have last night for some reason."
Despite the clear momentum shift in the series, most Thunder fans refused the urge to panic and instead looked ahead to Monday's pivotal Game 4.
"I'm not even remotely surprised by game 3 tonight," one fan wrote. "I had a feeling the Timberwolves would come out full throttle and play ball! We still have home court, and as long as we protect that, this game doesn't really matter! Shrug it off and get ready for Game 4."
No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit, and the Timberwolves were getting close to that mark. If not for the statement game tonight, the series might already be over, but now they get to rest a little easier knowing the series will go five games at the very least.
"Boy, this game HAS to feel good for the Timberwolves!! Showing you belong and getting that frustration out from the first 2 games," posted an X user after Game 3. "They need to carry this over to Monday!"
What the Timberwolves just made clear is that while the Thunder may be the top seed in the West, they will not just roll over and let them walk to the Finals. The Wolves believe they can win, and the victory in Game 3 was just the latest evidence supporting a potential comeback in the series.
Going forward, look for the Timberwolves to keep playing with extreme physicality and athleticism. Now that they're on the board, faith is growing stronger in a victory, and they will only come out with more energy in the next game. Still, the series is far from over, and it's going to take a coordinated and cohesive team effort to advance into the NBA Finals this year.
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