- Timberwolves torch Thunder 143-101 to cut series deficit to 2-1
- Anthony Edwards scores 30 in just three quarters
- Julius Randle bounces back with 24 points
- Wolves flip the script after two lopsided road losses
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander held to just 14 points and benched in third
- Target Center crowd fuels epic revenge game
- Thunder crumble under intense pressure and hostile environment
- Game 4 set for Monday in Minneapolis with Wolves roaring
Wolves Obliterate Thunder to Keep West Finals Alive
Timberwolves vs Thunder just flipped on its head.
Down 0-2. Embarrassed in back-to-back blowouts. Coming home with their season hanging by a thread.
Then BOOM. A 143-101 explosion that left the Thunder stunned, speechless, and scrambling. The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t just win Game 3—they dismantled Oklahoma City in every imaginable way.
Anthony Edwards was an unstoppable force, dropping 30 points in just three quarters and energizing a Target Center crowd that was hungry for revenge.
The Thunder? They looked like a team that forgot what series they were in.
Edwards Unleashes Superstar Mode
Welcome back, Anthony Edwards.
After being silenced in Games 1 and 2, the Wolves’ rising star turned the volume to max on Saturday night. With 30 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in only 33 minutes, Edwards looked like he was built for the playoffs.
He sliced through defenders, pulled up with confidence, and crushed the Thunder’s will with a handful of momentum-killing plays.
One second he was hitting deep threes. The next he was diving for loose balls, flying downcourt for breakaway dunks, and finishing acrobatic layups that sent fans into a frenzy.
This was a message performance. And the message? Don’t count us out.
Randle Roars Back, Rookie Shines
After being benched in Game 2, Julius Randle showed up with a vengeance.
He drilled fadeaways, bullied his way into the paint, and lit a fire under the Minnesota offense with 24 big points. This was the Randle the Wolves needed—confident, physical, and fearless.
And how about rookie Terrence Shannon Jr.?
Thirteen minutes. Fifteen points. Energy that blew the roof off. Every time he touched the ball, the crowd believed something magical could happen—and it usually did.
The bench outscored OKC’s reserves 57-36. Depth? Check.
Thunder Crumble Under the Spotlight
What happened to the NBA’s top-ranked defense? Where was the intensity? The toughness?
The Thunder looked lost, overwhelmed by the Timberwolves’ pace and physicality.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league MVP, managed just 14 points on a dismal 4-of-13 shooting. He went over 13 minutes without a bucket and was relentlessly booed by the Minneapolis crowd every time he touched the ball.
And the chant? Oh, it was brutal.
“Free throw merchant!” rang through Target Center, mocking SGA’s tendency to live at the line. On Saturday night, he couldn’t even buy a bucket, let alone a whistle.
With the Thunder trailing by 38 in the third, coach Mark Daigneault threw in the towel early, pulling his stars and accepting defeat.
From Blowouts to Blowback: Wolves Rewrite the Script
This was no fluke. Minnesota dominated from the jump, never trailing after the early minutes of the second quarter. They forced the Thunder into bad shots, clogged every lane, and never once let up on the gas.
They outscored OKC 44-21 in the second quarter alone, and absolutely buried them after halftime.
Where was the collapse? The mental lapses? Nowhere to be found.
This was the locked-in, laser-focused Wolves team that fans had been begging to see. And they delivered on the biggest stage of their season.
Target Center Turns Into a Playoff Furnace
Minnesota fans waited over two decades for a real playoff run.
And Saturday night? They gave everything.
From the taunting chants to the deafening roars on every Edwards slam, Target Center felt more like a coliseum than a basketball arena.
It was chaos. It was fire. And it rattled the Thunder to their core.
Wolves Defense Turns Tables on OKC
Let’s talk numbers.
The Thunder shot 50% or better in both games in OKC. In Minneapolis? Just 30% in the first half, and 41% overall.
The Timberwolves took OKC’s game and gave it right back to them—with interest.
Shai was pressured into four turnovers and nearly had as many fouls as buckets. Chet Holmgren couldn’t handle Minnesota’s physicality. Jalen Williams? Just 12 points.
This wasn’t just about scoring—it was about setting the tone.
Wolves Still Trailing, But Momentum Has Shifted
Yes, it’s still 2-1.
But this felt bigger than one win.
This was a psychological reset. The kind of win that makes the Thunder question their grip on the series. The kind of game that reminds everyone that Minnesota isn’t here to participate—they’re here to conquer.
Game 4 is on Monday. Another home game. Another chance to even the series. And if Edwards is cooking again, watch out.
Can the Thunder Respond?
Oklahoma City is young. Talented. Deep.
But now, they face real playoff pressure.
Game 3 exposed some serious cracks—especially in composure. If they don’t regroup fast, this could spiral.
Mark Daigneault will need a new game plan. Gilgeous-Alexander needs to rise like an MVP. And the Thunder defense needs to remember who they are.
Because if they don’t? The Wolves are ready to pounce.
Final Take: Wolves Bring the Thunder Down to Earth
What a response.
After two brutal losses, the Timberwolves didn’t just fight back—they annihilated the narrative. Edwards found his rhythm. Randle found redemption. And Minnesota found its soul again.
This was a line-in-the-sand kind of night.
Now the series is real. Now the pressure’s on both sides. And now the Western Conference Finals have officially arrived.
Timberwolves vs Thunder just became must-watch TV. See you Monday.
