Anthony Edwards scored 30 factors because the Minnesota Timberwolves overwhelmed the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 143-101 to tighten their NBA playoff collection.
Edwards added 9 rebounds and 6 assists whereas capturing 12-of-17 from the ground and 5-of-8 from three-point vary because the hosts Timberwolves pulled a recreation again to be 2-1 behind within the best-of-seven Western Convention finals.
“I used to be tremendous comfortable in regards to the physicality and power we introduced,” Edwards stated on Saturday. “Being down 2-0, it’s all about bringing power, and we introduced excessive power.”
Julius Randle added 24 factors for Minnesota, which set a membership document for factors in a playoff recreation in ripping the NBA regular-season win leaders and NBA Most Beneficial Participant Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who managed solely 14 factors.
“We received punched within the mouth,” stated Gilgeous-Alexander. “You get punched, it’s about getting again up. It’s about responding. That’s what the subsequent problem is.”
The Thunder, who gained the primary two video games at dwelling, face Sport 4 on Monday at Minneapolis and Sport 5 on Wednesday at Oklahoma Metropolis.
“I do know everyone seems to be comfortable about this one, however we all know OKC goes to return out and convey hella-energy and they’re going to be able to go and going to attempt to win recreation 4 and we’ve received to attempt to exceed their power and get a win,” Edwards stated.
“We’ll be prepared.”
Minnesota’s victory was essential as a result of no group has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff collection.
“We simply didn’t carry it from an power and focus standpoint,” stated Gilgeous-Alexander. “We simply didn’t have it. That they had the sense of urgency, realizing in the event that they go down 3-0, it’s going to be fairly powerful.
“They blitzed us fairly early, and we had been by no means in a position to get again. We’ve received to begin popping out with a way of urgency.”
The Timberwolves set a membership document for factors in a playoff recreation and led by as a lot as 129-84 late within the fourth quarter.
“We do have to have a look at it and deal with the issues that went awry for us,” stated Timberwolves coach Mark Daigneault. “They actually took it to us.
“They had been simply rather more bodily, a lot sharper, executed higher, extra forceful on offence. For the rating to be what it was, they wanted to outplay us in a number of areas, and that’s what they did.”
Randle was benched late in recreation two and sad about it, however responded by taking out his frustrations on the Timberwolves.
“He is aware of to not take nothing too private,” Edwards stated of Randle. “I might see it in his eyes. He wished his respect again, and he received it.”
Wolves dominate early
Minnesota seized a 72-41 half-time lead, with Edwards capturing 8-of-11 from the ground and producing 20 factors and eight rebounds within the first half.
“We simply weren’t in a position to bottle him up the way in which we had the primary couple of video games,” Daigneault stated. “Credit score him for the power and power that he performed with. He was actually on it early.”
The Timberwolves led by as a lot as 68-33 within the first half and set a membership document for playoff factors in a half with 72. They scored 13 factors off 10 compelled turnovers within the first half, whereas the Thunder shot 12-of-40.
“The largest factor is that they got here out and performed with extra power than we did,” Oklahoma Metropolis’s Chet Holmgren stated. “Wherever they wished to go, they received there. They didn’t allow us to cease them.”
Edwards scored 16 factors within the first quarter, outproducing the Thunder because the Timberwolves seized their greatest lead of the collection to that time at 34-14.
“Our depth, from the primary minute of the sport, we set a tone,” Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert stated.
“Everybody got here out with the mindset to be bodily. We did a very good job staying with it persistently by the entire recreation.”
Within the second half, Oklahoma Metropolis started with an 11-2 run, however the Timberwolves answered with a 10-0 spurt and went on to seize a 103-61 lead because the Thunder despatched their starters to the bench late within the third quarter.
