To paraphrase Prince, this is what it sounds like when J-Dub cries. Jalen Williams was crying out “and one!” in exuberance and the Oklahoma City Thunder are now up 2-0 in the Western Conference finals.
What do you do as the Minnesota Timberwolves here? The top-seeded Thunder look locked in and unforgiving. Newly-minted MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an automated scoring machine. Chet Holmgren is balling at the rim and along the perimeter. The bench has been whirring and aggressive, the defense disciplined and Williams has been a soul-crusher. Basketball’s net rating kings took the first two games by a combined 41 points.
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Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle and the Wolves now try to win on their home floor for Game 3. If they can’t make the requisite adjustments, they’ll be looking at a historically-insurmountable 3-0 series deficit. Either way, Mike Breen will have his “bang” call queued up for Saturday night primetime.
How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves Game 3
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Thunder at Timberwolves Game 3
Thunder lead series 2-0
Series odds: Thunder -2500, Timberwolves +1100
Edwards vowed to be more aggressive, and he indeed came correct with 32 points on 26 shots. The supporting cast needed to give more after its muted opening; both Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker looked much better behind the arc Thursday. Still, Minnesota fans were left sounding like Bill Murray in “Meatballs.” It just didn’t matter.
The Timberwolves enjoy one of the best home-court advantages in the league, and their series comeback largely hinges on a Game 3 energy reversal. Chris Finch’s squad led at halftime in Game 1 and was within striking distance at Thursday’s midway mark. They’ve been deflated by third-quarter runs and were on the wrong side of both turnover ledgers. Randle now has to step up down the stretch as Edwards nears overextension; he’s disappeared in both second halves despite a phenomenal postseason run at large.
Minnesota will also have to find success with their smaller lineups on Saturday. Mark Daigneault has increased the looks for Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso in this series, at the expense of 7-foot Isaiah Hartenstein. Rudy Gobert has been wholly neutralized as a result, coming into Game 3 with just seven points and 12 rebounds across 51 minutes.
Without Edwards and Randle at their very best, it’s tough to see the Wolves turning things around. Mike Conley, Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo look frigid. McDaniels scored 22 points in Game 2, but he also shoved SGA to the floor in frustration.
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Oklahoma City lost two of three road games in its last series with Denver. Minnesota is 4-1 at home in these playoffs.
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On this day (May 24) in NBA Playoffs history
2006 — Suns 121, Mavericks 118: Boris Diaw hit a decisive turnaround jumper with 0.5 seconds left. He finished with a game-high 34 points. From the New York Times archives:
“‘I was more of the second option,’ said Diaw, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound native of France who is in his third N.B.A. season. ‘We drew the play for Steve [Nash].’”
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(Photo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Julius Randle: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)
