Twists and Turns: Timberwolves Set Playoff Record in Game 3 Blowout
You don’t see a team put up 143 points in a playoff game very often, but that’s just what the Minnesota Timberwolves did to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. Returning to a frenzied Target Center down 0-2, the Wolves desperately needed a spark—and boy, did they get one. Minnesota’s win didn’t just trim the Thunder’s series lead to 2-1; it showed this group isn’t ready to fold under postseason pressure.
Anthony Edwards was the clear motor behind the Timberwolves’ electric performance. Right from the tip-off, he attacked the rim, splashed threes, and hustled on defense. The 22-year-old guard scored in bunches and energized everyone around him—if you watched the game, you saw how his energy fed the whole team. This wasn’t just about putting up points; it was Edwards rallying his squad when they easily could have let the series slip further away.
The thick of the action belonged not only to the Wolves’ stars but to their whole rotation. Minnesota’s bench lit up the scoreboard and provided no shortage of hustle plays. Jaden McDaniels, who sometimes flies under the radar, was lights-out—draining midrange jumpers and knocking down threes when the Thunder tried to clamp down. That depth caught OKC’s defense completely off-guard, with Minnesota sharing the ball and getting everyone involved.
Home Fans, Hard Fouls, and a Defensive Clampdown
It wasn’t just the guys on the court making noise. Target Center’s home crowd played their part from the opening tip, riding the Timberwolves’ every run and unsettling the Thunder every time they tried to mount a comeback. Oklahoma City looked rattled—early turnovers, rushed shots, and defenders flat-footed as Minnesota poured it on. With chants echoing throughout the fourth quarter, there was no mistaking where the heart of Game 3 beat strongest.
A huge turnaround happened on defense. Minnesota had given up over 120 points in the first two games, but Game 3 was a different story. They made life tough for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, forcing him into contested jumpers and double teams. The Wolves forced a string of Thunder turnovers, quickly turning those broken OKC possessions into fast breaks and points at the other end. It was the kind of switch-flip effort that can swing an entire series, especially when your opponent can’t get in rhythm.
This win doesn’t undo the first two games, but it throws all the momentum back into Minnesota’s corner. Now, with the series standing at 2-1, the Timberwolves are suddenly alive and hunting for another statement victory in Game 4. The Thunder have to respond, or they’ll be heading back to Oklahoma City with a totally different outlook. For now, Minnesota gets to celebrate a record-setting night, tighter defense, and the kind of playoff energy that makes basketball in May so addictive.