After a dominant 143-101 performance in their Game 3 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Minnesota Timberwolves will try to even up the series at 2-2 tonight in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.
The series shifted to Minnesota for Game 3 after the Thunder took a 2-0 series lead, where then the energy shifted to the Wolves. After OKC ran and shot the Wolves out of the gym in Game’s 1 and 2, the Wolves had a sense of urgency entering Game 3 in front of their home crowd.
With a needed response, the Timberwolves dominated the Thunder by playing tough, smart, and disciplined defense, keeping the Thunder’s MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in check for only 14 points on the night. Anthony Edwards also played his part after starting another playoff series cold, finishing with 30 points including two thunderous dunks that got the Minnesota crowd into a frenzy. The Wolves were also provided a “spark-plug” in Game 3 by giving rookie Terrance Shannon Jr some minutes where he finished with 15 points outscoring all 5 of the Thunders starters.
Tonight could be a pivotal piece in this series. With a win the Timberwolves will tie the series at 2-2 perhaps shifting the momentum of the series as it heads back to Oklahoma City for Game 5. With a Thunder win, the Thunder will be just one win shy of returning to the NBA Finals for the first time since the 2011-2012 season when they were defeated in a gentlemen’s sweep by the Miami Heat in 5 games, and could do so on their own home court with fans in attendance.
Tip off will be at 7:30 from Minnesota.
Photo Credit: The NBA, the Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA Players Association
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