Timberwolves Dominate Thunder in Game 3, Cut Series Deficit to 2-1

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves faced off in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals, and it was clear from the start that only one team was ready to play. Despite the Timberwolves holding a 2-0 lead, it was the Thunder who looked unprepared, as the Timberwolves demolished them 143-101. The 42-point margin of victory was the worst loss of the season for the Thunder, and the 143 points scored by the Timberwolves set a playoff franchise record for Minnesota. The Timberwolves' dominant performance was led by Anthony Edwards, who entered the game on a mission after a subpar Game 1. He notched 16 points and two assists in the first quarter, single-handedly outscoring the Thunder and helping the Timberwolves finish the quarter 34-14, their lowest-scoring quarter of the season. Edwards finished the game with 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. The Timberwolves' defense was also impressive, as they had 16 points off turnovers in the first quarter, after posting 10 in all of Game 2. By halftime, the Timberwolves were up by 31, and by the end of the third quarter, they were up by 37. Their lead peaked at 45, and it was an impressive response after the Thunder bullied them in Oklahoma. For OKC, the problems started with a season-low 14-point night from newly crowned MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Minnesota's adjustments kept him contained pretty much all night, and defenders kept picking him up at mid-range on drives, taking away a vital part of his game. He shot 4-of-13 from the field, with 6 assists and 4 turnovers. No other Thunder player scored more than 13 points, and it was the first time the team lost the turnover battle since March 25. Game 4 is scheduled for Monday at the Target Center, where the Timberwolves can either even the series or get pushed to the brink. Judging from how they looked on Saturday, the Thunder have some significant changes to make if they want to avoid being swept in this series. The Timberwolves' dominant performance in Game 3 has set a high bar for their opponents to clear if they want to have any chance of winning this series.