Hungry like the Wolf.
The Minnesota Timberwolves got back to their winning ways setting a franchise record for points scored in a playoff game on Saturday night as they trounced the Oklahoma City Thunder 143-101 to cut the deficit in half, 2-1 in the Western Conference finals.
Anthony Edwards led his team with 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists in 30 minutes of playing time, on a night when he had plenty of help from his supporting cast. Six other Timberwolves players reached double figures in points.
“It’s about just bringing the energy with a team like this,” said the three-time All-Star after the game. “OKC play with a ton of energy, no matter what, first or fourth quarter. So just trying to exceed their energy, or match it, at least. That was the most important thing today and I think we did that.”
Also playing a big part in the win was Julius Randle, who scored 24 points two days after being benched in the fourth quarter, and unsung hero, rookie Terrence Shannon Jr., out of Illinois, who impressed with 15 points in just 13 minutes.
“Huge,” said Randle when asked about Shannon’s performance. “We knew that we would need him this series, and coach obviously has a lot of trust in him. So, for him to be ready for his moment and come in and give us the lift he did – he brought a lot of energy to the game, intensity – he was just a huge boost for our team today.”
Embed from Getty ImagesThe contribution of Shannon and the Timberwolves reserves actually outscored the Thunder’s starters by a significant margin, 66-49 on the night.
After two demoralizing losses on the road in Oklahoma, the Timberwolves clearly took advantage of returning to Target Center, where they have lost just one of their last 11 games. Up by 34 in the third quarter, Randle could be seen shouting the words “We home now!” repeatedly in the direction of the Minnesota crowd.
By that point, the game had long been decided. The Thunder have the No. 1 defense in the NBA but found themselves down early in the game when a 12-0 run in the opening quarter put the Wolves up by 16 points, 25-9.
“Their force on that end of the floor was better than our physicality and pressure, things that we typically do well,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.
By the end of the quarter, it was 34-14, and from early in the second quarter onward, the Thunder were never able to mount a comeback or even threaten the Timberwolves. In fact, the Thunder never got within 22 points of the home team.
Outscored 69-37 in the third quarter over the first two games, the Timberwolves made sure to avoid another post-halftime disaster. Edwards, tightly guarded by Isaiah Joe in the corner, found just enough space to drive along the baseline and spin an up-and-under reverse layup off the glass for a 79-52 lead.
“That’s what we need him to do, and when he does it, it takes us to another level,” coach Chris Finch said.
After scoring 69 points over the first two games of the series, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named NBA MVP earlier this week, was held in check, scoring only 14 points on 4-for-13 from the field.
With 4:25 remaining in the third quarter and the Thunder down by 38, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault waved the white flag and subbed out his leading man, much to the delight of the home crowd, which had booed him constantly throughout the night.
“We just didn’t bring it from an energy and focus standpoint,” Gilgeous-Alexander admitted afterward. “They just came out with a sense of urgency, and we didn’t.”
The Timberwolves will be hoping to make home court advantage count one more time and knot the series at two when the teams meet in Game 4 on Monday night on ESPN at 8:30 ET.
