Anthony Edwards puts on show as Timberwolves destroy Thunder to get back into series

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MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards was decided to maintain Minnesota’s spirits up, from the flight residence after a irritating journey to Oklahoma Metropolis into an important recreation in these Western Convention finals.

Constructive vitality is rarely onerous for him to seek out.

Edwards had 30 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in simply three quarters for the Timberwolves in a 143-101 victory on Saturday evening in Recreation 3 that reduce the Thunder’s lead within the sequence to 2-1.

“Simply final strain on the ball,” Edwards mentioned, “and shoot it as a lot as I can.”

Julius Randle added 24 factors and rookie Terrence Shannon Jr. had 15 factors in 13 minutes to focus on a giant enhance from the bench for the Wolves, who precipitated all types of cracks within the Thunder’s NBA -best protection after struggling to resolve it within the two lopsided losses on the street.

“Their drive on that finish of the ground was higher than our physicality and strain, issues that we usually do properly,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault mentioned.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had simply 14 factors on 4-for-13 taking pictures with 4 turnovers, subbed out with a 38-point deficit and 4:25 to go within the third quarter as Daigneault conceded on an evening when his crew was by no means nearer than 22 factors after early within the second quarter.

“It felt like we simply eased into the sport, and so they didn’t,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “They blitzed us fairly early, after which we had been by no means in a position to get again due to it.”

Recreation 4 is in Minneapolis on Monday evening.

Anthony Edwards, who scored 30 factors, slams residence a dunk through the Timberwolves’ 143-101 Recreation 3 blowout win over the Thunder on Could 24, 2025. AP

The journey north and venue shift triggered a pointy drop in taking pictures for the Thunder, who made precisely half of their makes an attempt from the ground over the primary two video games and went simply 12 for 40 within the first half on Saturday.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the newly minted NBA MVP, went greater than 13 minutes of recreation time between baskets whereas the Goal Middle crowd loudly booed him on each contact and taunted him on the line with the mantra, “Free throw service provider!” in a nod to the favored notion he attracts an inordinate quantity of fouls.

Randle, who had his first off evening of this postseason in a Recreation 2 efficiency that was so disjointed he was benched for the fourth quarter, had his fireplace again — and his signature fadeaway.

Julius Randle, who scored 24 factors, celebrates through the Timberwolves’ Recreation 3 blowout win over the Thunder. NBAE through Getty Photos

Edwards rediscovered his 3-point shot, going 5 for 8 after taking pictures simply 1 of 9 in Recreation 2.

He gave the quick-handed, ball-pressuring Thunder a style of what it’s wish to play towards themselves with a few relentless pursuits of unfastened balls he changed into breakaway dunks.

Outscored 69-37 within the third quarter over the primary two video games, the Wolves made certain to keep away from one other post-halftime malaise.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seems to be on after the Thunder’s Recreation 3 blowout loss to the Timberwolves. Getty Photos

Edwards, tightly guarded by Isaiah Joe within the nook, discovered sufficient house to drive alongside the baseline and spin an up-and-under reverse layup off the glass for a 79-52 lead.