Anthony Edwards scored 30 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves overwhelmed the Oklahoma City Thunder 143-101 to close the NBA Playoff Series.
Edwards added nine rebounds and six assists while shooting 17-12 from the floor from 3-point range to bring the game back to 2-1 in the best seven Western Conference Finals.
“I was very pleased with the physicality and energy we brought,” Edwards said Saturday. “Reducing at 2-0 is all about bringing energy, and we brought high energy.”
Julius Randle added 24 points to Minnesota. This set a club record for points in the playoff game, which managed only 14 points for NBA regular season victory leader and NBA most valuable player, Shay Gilgauss Alexander.
“We punched our mouths,” said Gilgaus Alexander. “You’ll be punched, it’s about getting up. It’s about being responding. That’s the next challenge.”
The Thunder, who won the first two games at home, faced Game 4 in Minneapolis and Game 5 in Oklahoma City on Monday.
“I know everyone is happy with this, but I know that OKC comes out and brings some sparring energy. They’re ready to win Game 4, so they have to get a win above the energy,” Edwards said.
“We’re ready.”
Minnesota’s victory was important. Because no team recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win the NBA Playoffs Series.
“We didn’t bring that from an energy and focus perspective,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We didn’t have that. They had a sense of urgency. It would be pretty difficult to know if they’re going down 3-0.
“They sent us out pretty quickly, and we never could go back. We have to start coming out with a sense of urgency.”
The Timberwolves set a club record for points in the playoff games, leading 129-84 late in the fourth quarter.
“We have to look at it and deal with the unfortunate things for us,” said Timberwolves coach Mark Daygoon. “They really took it to us.
“They were much more physical, they were much more sharp, they were much more keen, they were doing better, they were more powerful against the attack. For the score to be like that, they had to overtake us in many areas, and that’s what they did.”
Randle was benched late in Game 2 and was frustrated about it, but responded by drawing out his frustration with the Timberwolves.
“I know he doesn’t take much personal,” Edwards said of Randle. “I could see it in his eyes. He wanted to regain his respect.
The wolves will rule quickly
Minnesota seized a 72-41 halftime lead, with Edwards shooting 11-11 from the floor, earning 20 points and eight rebounds in the first half.
“We couldn’t bottle him the way of the first few games,” Daigneault said. “Trust him with the energy and strength he played with. He was on it really early.”
The Timberwolves led 68-33 in the first half and set a club record for playoff points at 72. They scored 13 points from 10 forced turnovers in the first half, with Thunder earning a 12 of 40.
“The biggest thing is they came out and played more force than we did,” said Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmglen. “If it was where they wanted to go, they got there. They didn’t let us stop them.”
Edwards scored 16 points in the first quarter, extending the lightning as the Timberwolves scored the biggest lead in the series 34-14.
“From the first minute of the game, our strength set the tone,” said Rudy Goat of Minnesota.
“Everyone has come up with the idea that they’re physical. We’ve done a good job of keeping it consistently throughout the game.”
In the second half, Oklahoma City began with an 11-2 run, but the Timberwolves answered with a 10-0 spurt and continued to grab a 103-61 lead as the Thunder sent the starters to the bench later in the third quarter.
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