MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards had 30 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in simply three quarters to steer the reenergized Minnesota Timberwolves in a 143-101 victory over Oklahoma Metropolis on Saturday night time in Recreation 3 of the Western Convention finals that reduce the Thunder’s lead within the sequence to 2-1.
Julius Randle added 24 factors and rookie Terrence Shannon Jr. had 15 factors in 13 minutes to focus on an enormous enhance from the bench for the Wolves, who brought on every kind of cracks within the Thunder’s NBA-best protection after struggling to resolve it within the two lopsided losses on the street.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had simply 14 factors on 4-for-13 taking pictures with 4 turnovers and subbed out with a 38-point deficit and 4:25 to go within the third quarter as Thunder coach Mark Daigneault conceded on an evening when his group was by no means nearer than 22 factors after early within the second quarter.
The eventual 42-point win by Minnesota is the most important by any group that had been trailing 2-0 in a sequence in NBA historical past.
Recreation 4 is in Minneapolis on Monday night time.
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 sport time between baskets whereas the Goal Heart 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.
The Thunder totally anticipated a robust response from the Wolves after opening the sequence with two lopsided wins. This was a bone-jarring counterpunch from the opening tip that saved the group roaring all over the end, with none of the half-quarter meltdowns that doomed them in Oklahoma Metropolis.
Randle, who had his first off night time of this postseason in a Recreation 2 efficiency so disjointed he was benched for the fourth quarter, had his hearth again — and his signature fadeaway. He was additionally a lot steadier on protection; the Thunder shot 4-for-12 when Randle was the first defender in Recreation 3 after going 12-for-18 vs. Randle in Video games 1 and a pair of.
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 is prefer to play towards themselves with a few relentless free balls he changed into breakaway dunks.
Outscored 69-37 within the third quarter over the primary two video games, the Wolves did not even depart the door open a crack for the Thunder to start out a second-half comeback. Edwards, tightly guarded by Isaiah Joe within the nook, discovered sufficient area to drive alongside the baseline and spin an up-and-under reverse layup off the glass for a 79-52 lead.
The Thunder should buck historical past to attain their final aim this season — no group in NBA historical past has suffered a 40-point loss within the playoffs and went on to win the championship.
The Related Press and ESPN Analysis contributed to this story.
