The Minnesota Timberwolves found their answer to Oklahoma City Thunder’s early series dominance, delivering a statement 143-101 victory in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday night.
After two games that showcased the brilliance of Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards stole the show in Minnesota.
Edwards not only outshone Gilgeous-Alexander, but for a stretch he single-handedly outpaced the entire Thunder team, scoring 16 first-quarter points to Oklahoma City’s 14.
“Just ultimate pressure on the ball and shoot it as much as I can,” Edwards said of his aggressive mindset that kept the Timberwolves from falling into a 3-0 series hole for the second consecutive year.
Edwards finished with a game-high 30 points in just 30 minutes, shooting 12-for-17 from the floor, including 5-for-8 from beyond the arc.
His night also included nine rebounds, six assists and two steals. It was a dramatic turnaround after a rough start to the series from long range, where he had gone 4-for-17 from deep.
“I feel like the second game I was in a rhythm, it was just my trey ball wasn’t falling,” Edwards said. “Just getting back in the gym, watching shots go in and just keep trusting it. That’s all.”
This performance marked Edwards’ 15th career 30-point playoff outing, putting him in rare company among players aged 23 or younger, trailing only LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Luka Doncic.
one down, three to go. pic.twitter.com/i2BhLaONRZ
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 25, 2025
Edwards’ early fireworks gave Minnesota a 72-41 halftime lead, a franchise playoff record for points in a half. Wolves head coach Chris Finch praised his star’s efforts on both ends of the floor.
“That’s what we need him to do, and when he does it, it takes us to another level,” Finch said. “I thought that’s what was really big in the first quarter. He got a couple of those steals. He was all over the place. He knew that we needed that type of start from our defense, and he brought it. It was really, really good.”
For Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, Game 3 was a struggle.
The 26-year-old MVP was limited to 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting, with six assists and four turnovers. “He got some early ones easy, and with good players like that, you can’t let them get comfortable early or it looks like that,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
“Honestly, it just shows us, more than anything, of what we’re capable of doing,” said Wolves veteran Mike Conley. “So, now we’ve set a standard for ourselves, like, why aren’t we playing with this type of effort every night? So, if we don’t do it the next game, that’s on us. It has nothing to do with them.”
Game 4 will be back at the Target Center on Monday night, where Minnesota have a 5-1 record this postseason. But despite the emphatic win, Edwards made sure to keep expectations in check.
“No,” he said when asked if the series had shifted. “We’re still down. It’s just one win. Can’t get too high on it. Don’t get too low. Just got to try to win another one, man. This team, they’re the best team in the NBA.
“So, we got to be able to beat this team more than one time, and it’s going to be tough.”
