Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves hit back against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.
With OKC looking to take full control of a series in which they were heavily favored, they were demolished 143–101 by the Wolves in a stunning home-court display.
The Thunder had comfortably won the first two games at home heading into Saturday, but it was a different story at Target Center.
Minnesota’s superstar Edwards, who has recently been labelled ‘inefficient’ by critics, single-handedly outscored Oklahoma City 16-14 in the first quarter, en-route to a game-high 30 points in 30 minutes.
He watched the entire fourth quarter from the bench, as the Timberwolves had already opened up a 37-point advantage by that time.
Edwards added nine rebounds and six assists to his points total, far outplaying the NBA‘s newly-crowned MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had just 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting with four turnovers.
He was subbed out with a 38-point deficit and 4:25 to go in the third quarter, as Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault conceded that the game was already lost.
OKC came into the series as favorites to win the NBA Championship, having finished with 68-14 record.
But on Saturday, that regular season effort actually helped Minnesota secure a spot in the record books.
The Timberwolves’ 42-point margin of victory was the largest ever against a 65-win team in either the regular or postseason.
Not only have Minnesota been able to breath life into the Western Conference Finals series, but they also made a nice bit of history doing it.
Their 72-41 halftime cushion also set a new franchise record for points in a half of a playoff game.
The Wolves set a number of records with their statement Game 3 winGetty Edwards was key to their success, scoring 30 points against the ThunderGettyEdwards, who finished 12-for-17 from the field, including 5-for-8 from 3-point range, discussed his leading effort afterwards.
“Just ultimate pressure on the ball and shoot it as much as I can,” he said of his approach, as the Wolves avoided falling behind 3-0 in the conference finals for the second straight year.
“I feel like the second game I was in a rhythm, it was just my trey ball wasn’t falling.
“Just getting back in the gym, watching shots go in and just keep trusting it. That’s all.”
Wolves coach Chris Finch also praised his star man post-game.
“That’s what we need him to do, and when he does it, it takes us to another level,” he said.
Head coach Finch praised Edwards for his effort post-gameGetty Minnesota’s star man that the home crowd on their feet on Saturday nightGetty“I thought that’s what was really big in the first quarter.
“He got a couple of those steals. He was all over the place. He knew that we needed that type of start from our defense, and he brought it.
“It was really, really good.”
Minnesota, who crafted a new plan to stop ‘free throw merchant’ SGA, host Game 4 on Monday night, as the two teams return to Target Center.
The Wolves have gone 5-1 at home so far in the postseason, and will be looking to even the series 2-2.
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