With the obligation to react after losing the first two games, the Minnesota Timberwolves signed one of the biggest beatings of these NBA Playoffs 2025 with a 143-101 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the third game of the Western Conference Finals.
Backed by their home crowd at the Target Center, the Wolves dominated from start to finish and left the series 2-1, giving themselves back the confidence to keep fighting for a ticket to the Finals.
Anthony Edwards was the great protagonist of the game with a stellar performance. The shooting guard signed:
30 points
9 rebounds
6 assists
2 steals
5 three pointers
All this in only 29 minutes on the court. His effectiveness from the start (16 points with 6/8 shooting in the first quarter) set the pace for a Timberwolves unstoppable from the perimeter.
Minnesota's offensive festival
Minnesota offered a collective recital on offense. The team finished with more than 50% shooting from the field and made 20 three-pointers, a devastating number that overwhelmed the Thunder's defense.
The bench also responded in a big way:
Terrence Shannon Jr.: 15 points
Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 12 points
Naz Reid: 10 points and 8 rebounds.
In all, the Wolves' reserves put up 66 points to Oklahoma's second unit's 52.
Stifling defense to shut down Shai
On the other end of the court, the Timberwolves dried up Shai Gilgeous Alexander, who could only score 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting. OKC's MVP was completely neutralized, as was Chet Holmgren, who was held to 10 points, and Jalen Williams, who barely added 13.
ANT TAKES OVER IN GAME 3!
🐜 30 PTS.
🐜 9 REB
🐜 6 AST
🐜 5-8 3PM
🐜 12-17 FGM
Wolves can even the WCF on Monday at 8:30pm/et on ESPN 🍿 pic.twitter.com/NpSwdJ2a1K
- NBA (@NBA) May 25, 2025
Minnesota's opening 14-0 run keyed a devastating first quarter (34-14) that made it clear the game was going to be one-sided.
Minnesota reached a 45-point lead
The home team's superiority was so evident that the Thunder sat their starters midway through the third quarter. In that stretch, the Wolves went on to win by 45 points (129-84) in what is one of the largest margins of victory in these Playoffs.
At halftime, the scoreboard already reflected a resounding 72-41, and not evenOKC's timidreaction attempt**(11-2 at the beginning of the third quarter) could prevent the total shipwreck.**
With this victory, the Timberwolves have closed the gap in the playoffs (1-2) and are back in the fight for the West title. Game 4 will be played this Monday, again in Minnesota, where the home team will look to even the series against the Thunder, who will have to react if they do not want the momentum to change sides.
The winner of the series will face the winner of the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals 2025, where the Indianapolis team holds a 2-0 lead after two wins at Madison Square Garden.