After Gilgeous-Alexander dominated the first two games, Edwards outplayed the newly anointed MVP in Game 3. SGA finished with 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting. As good as the Thunder have been all year, they aren’t a frightening matchup unless Gilgeous-Alexander is dictating plays — and officials’ whistles.
In these NBA playoffs, home-court advantage has meant nothing … until this series. The home teams are 3-0, with three convincing victories, and the old line about benches not traveling finally came true, with the Wolves’ reserves dominating and the Thunder reserves offering little resistance.
Get past the coaching jargon, and what most NBA playoff adjustments come down to can be summed up in four words:
Play harder. Shoot better.
“We wanted to put ultimate pressure on the ball and shoot it as much as I can,” Edwards said. “The adjustments are really not the biggest thing. It’s bringing the energy.”
Near the end of the third quarter, Edwards exited the game, grabbed a towel and walked through the tunnel. Had the Wolves lost this game, their season would be all but over. Instead, Edwards wasn’t required in the fourth quarter. He had shot, not shoved, his way to victory.