The Minnesota Timberwolves won the NBA playoff series by 143-101 thanks to Anthony Edwards’ 30 points.
The Timberwolves’ 12-of-17 shooting and 5-of-8 from three-point range helped the hosts, who were 2-1 up, win the game back in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals.
According to Edwards, “I was really happy with the physicality and energy we brought.” “We brought high energy, and it’s all about bringing energy, and it’s down to 2-0.”
Minnesota, which defeated NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and set a club record for points in a playoff game with 24 points from Julius Randle, set a new club record for points.
Gilgeous-Alexander remarked, “We got punched in the mouth. You are punched; it’s all about regaining your balance. It’s all about responding. The next challenge will be that.
Game 4 will be played on Monday in Minneapolis and Game 5 will be played in Oklahoma City, where the Thunder, who won the first two games at home, will play.
“I know everyone is happy about this one, but we know OKC will come out and bring hella-energy and they will go to try to win game four,” Edwards said. “We have to try and exceed their energy and get a win,” he said.
“We’ll be ready”.
No team has ever triumphed over a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series, so Minnesota’s victory was crucial.
Gilgeous-Alexander remarked, “We simply didn’t bring it from an energy and focus standpoint.” Simply put, we lacked it. They sensed an urgency because they knew that if they went down 3-0, things would be pretty difficult.
We were never able to return after they blitzed us fairly early. We must begin to speak out with an air of urgency.
In a playoff game, the Timberwolves led by as many as 129-84 late in the fourth quarter, breaking the club record for points.
Timberwolves coach Mark Daigneault said, “We do have to look at it and address the things that went wrong for us.” They actually addressed it to us.
They simply had much better offence, better execution, and much more physical physicality. They needed to outscore us in many areas in order for the score to be what it was, and that’s what they did.
Randle was unhappy with his late benching and late-game decision, but he quickly addressed his frustration with the Timberwolves.
He is aware of Randle’s lack of being too intimate, according to Edwards. “His eyes could see it,” he said. He pleaded for and received his respect.
Wolves take the lead early
In the first half, Edwards scored 20 points and eight rebounds and led 72-41 at halftime.
Daigneault remarked, “We simply weren’t able to bottle him up the way we did the first couple of games.” He deserves praise for his energy and skill with which he played. He was extremely early.
The Timberwolves set a club record for playoff points in a half with 72, and the lead reached 68-33 in the first half. The Thunder shot 12-of-40 in the first half while the Thunder forced 10 turnovers to score 13 points.
Chet Holmgren of Oklahoma City said, “The biggest thing was they came out and played with more force than we did.” They arrived wherever they desired to go. They refused to let us stop them.
The Timberwolves’ biggest lead of the series came at 34-14 in the first quarter thanks to Edwards’ 16 points, which he outrefeated against the Thunder.
Rudy Gobert of Minnesota said, “Our intensity set a tone from the opening minute of the game.”
“Everyone came out with the idea of being physically.” We did a good job of staying consistent throughout the entire game.
Oklahoma City opened the second half with a 11-2 run, but the Timberwolves answered with a 10-0 spurt before the Thunder sent their starters to the bench late in the third quarter to take a 103-61 lead.
Source: Aljazeera
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