The Western Conference Finals have been rough for the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing the first two games against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Of course, that was at Paycom Center, which is always jam-packed with Thunder fans.
As the series moved to Minneapolis' Target Center, the Timberwolves won 143-101 against the Thunder. This was a cathartic performance from the Timberwolves, including Julius Randle, who had a bounce-back night.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) shoots the ball over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) during the first half in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
The Timberwolves have needed a spark plug since the start of the series. Most people would think it needed to come from players like Terrence Shannon Jr. off the bench.
However, the Timberwolves also fed off the energy of the home crowd at Target Center. The fans in Minneapolis were loud as they willed the Timberwolves to victory. The fans succeeded, as the home team won by 42 points.
Randle's "We're Home Now" Message For The Minnesota Crowd
During the blowout performance, Randle had a special moment when he celebrated with the crowd, declaring they were now home.
It was evident that the Timberwolves loved playing in front of their fans, as they reveled in the friendly environment. This was a moment the players were waiting for, and they proved that home-court advantage is significant for this series.
"I just really wanted to feed off the energy from the crowd. Obviously, I love being home, but it doesn't matter where we're at. I'm still approaching the game the same way," Randle said after the big Game 3 win. "The crowd, the home energy, it had me going. It gave me a lot of juice, I know our team feeds off it. I was having some fun there."
Game 4 will still be at Target Center, so the players will want to play like that again. It will likely not be a 40-point blowout anymore, but the foundation they created from the Game 3 win should spur them on further.
The Timberwolves Want To Tie The Series In Game 4
With another game at Target Center in Game 4, the Timberwolves could tie the series at 2-2 on Monday night. It will be another tough obstacle for the Timberwolves to overcome, but they have made a habit of surprising people.
They won against the Los Angeles Lakers as the heavy underdog, and now that they are in a similar position, they want to do it again. The Thunder are a much better team than the Lakers, but the Timberwolves are still scratching the surface of their potential.
With Randle back to his best after a rough Game 3, the Timberwolves are firing on all cylinders with him and Anthony Edwards. This bodes well for the future because the Timberwolves want to win.
This will be a challenging task, but the Timberwolves can do it. With coach Chris Finch in charge, anything is possible.