It was gut check time for the Wolves, who needed their superstar, Anthony Edwards, to show up in a way he had yet to do during this postseason. It was time for the budding young superstar to spread his wings, put his team on his back, if necessary, and lead them back into this series.

How did the Minnesota Timberwolves turn West Finals around in game 3 vs OKC Thunder?

The Minnesota Timberwolves team that dropped into OKC for games one and two of this series, they were left in the Oklahoma wilderness to die. And the team that showed up in the Twin Cities Saturday night… well, it was a completely different squad than anything we have seen out of the 2024-25 Wolves.

Different intensity, different attitude, better focus. And when everyone on the roster is bought in like Ant & Co. were in game three, good things happen. So, here is how the Wolves won game three Saturday night and climbed back into the 2025 Western Conference Finals.

1.) Minnesota Timberwolves came out ready… then never let up

After the Thunder took an early 4-0 lead, the Timberwolves fight instinct — which did not exist in the first two games vs OKC — finally kicked in. In the blink of an eye, the Wolves were suddenly up 16-9. Then, 25-12… and before the Thunder could even comprehend what was happening, the first quarter was over and the Wolves were standing over them with a 34-14 lead.

ANTMAN 1Q TAKEOVER IN GAME 3 ON ABC ‼️

ANOTHER TRIPLE & SLAM FOR 12 PTS 😤😤😤 https://t.co/PVRIfnifv3 pic.twitter.com/bf9uM5nn3Q

— NBA (@NBA) May 25, 2025

From there, the Minnesota Timberwolves never let up. After they knocked the Thunder to the floor with their 1st quarter haymaker, they refused to let Shai and the boys off the Target Center mat. When halftime hit, the Wolves had stretched their lead to 31 points, 72-41.

Finally, OKC attempted to counter-punch at the start of the third quarter, which has been the quarter they used to bury Minnesota in games one and two. But after going on an 11-2 run to start the second half, the Wolves stumbled back, got their balance, and delivered the early knockout blow.

Related: MN Lynx PoBO Cheryl Reeve was 100% Right About Angel Reese

After a Chris Finch timeout to stem the Thunder tide, Minnesota went on a 10-0 run of their own, immediately pushing their lead back to 30+ points. And that’s when reality started to sink in for Oklahoma City. This was not their night. Outside of that initial second half push, the Oklahoma City Thunder never got back within 30 points.

The surrender came quickly, at the end of the 3rd quarter. And when the dust finally settled at Target Center, it was one of the biggest blowouts in either franchise’s postseason history, a 42-point 143-101 Minneapolis curb stomping.

Julius Randle logo 3 pic.twitter.com/H2kMmd0Yjv

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 25, 2025

Instead of losing focus with their big lead, something we have seen this Wolves team do throughout the regular season and playoffs, Minnesota put OKC in a full-mount and proceeded to hammer punch them in the forehead until the metaphorical Target Center ring was stained red and Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was forced to prematurely throw in the towel by pulling his starters late in the third quarter.

2.) Anthony Edwards answered the call

Tonight, Anthony Edwards provided exactly what the Minnesota Timberwolves needed, and he walked onto the court locked in on victory. Ant scored 12 of the Wolves’ first 18 points, 15 of their first 25 and 20 overall in the first half.

ANTHONY EDWARDS DRILLS THE TRIPLE FOR 25 😱

He's 4-6 from downtown and 10-14 from the floor!!!

📺 West Finals G3 on ABC pic.twitter.com/QMJ3iFbyga

— NBA (@NBA) May 25, 2025

And Ant’s teammates responded by shooting the lights out for the first time in nearly two series. Minnesota Timberwolves players not named Anthony Edwards went 6-of-14 from deep in the first half and shot 51% from the field. The Wolves finished 57.3% on the night, as a team, and 20-of-40 from three.

Edwards’ 20 first half points came on 8-of-11 from the field and 3-of-5 from deep. He finished a +36 with 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the field and 5-of-8 from deep.

If Anthony Edwards did this back in the 80’s he’d deadass be in GOAT conversations 😂

pic.twitter.com/5B2umgKKIy

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) May 25, 2025

Related: Time for Anthony Edwards to Earn His NBA Superstar Label

It wasn’t just his shot that was falling, though. Anthony Edwards was everywhere tonight in game three, early and often. To go with his 30-piece, Ant posted 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. I have little doubt that, had the Wolves needed 50 points from Ant tonight, he would have had it for them.

3.) Target Center crowd made tangible difference in game 3

The other thing that stood out, while watching tonight’s Western Conference Finals game three, was the Target Center crowd. After the Wolves fell behind 2-0 in this series, it was difficult for even the most optimistic Minnesota sports fans to find hope in what felt like a very unlikely comeback.

But the vibes at Target Center before tip-off on Saturday evening quickly wiped a lot of that hopelessness away. And the Thunder, who play in front of one of the loudest crowds in the NBA, looked shell-shocked by just how insane the Minnesota Timberwolves home arena got during that tone-setting (and eardrum shattering) first quarter run.

Anthony Edwards PnR pull-up 3 + steal + transition dunk, great two-way sequence pic.twitter.com/8LGnmer4nT

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 25, 2025

Target Center crowd chants “free throw merchant” at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pic.twitter.com/XuIWMKmfW3

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 25, 2025

Honestly, I can’t say I anticipated the Target Center crowd making as big of a difference in game three as it did. Sure, it’s loud, and that’s better than the home-court advantage other teams get. But for professionals, how big of an advantage can it really be, right? Turns out, it can have a huge impact.

The Thunder played sloppy and out of character all night. They came in over-confident and lacking focus, especially on defense. But Shai was not expecting to get booed every time he touched the ball, Chet probably thought he’d hear cheers.

No chance. This is the playoffs. “Minnesota nice” is dead. And now… we might have a series. But first, the Wolves have to get one more win on Monday night, because getting game four is just as important as game three.

Now, it’s fight or flight time for the Timberwolves. Losing game three Saturday night is not an option if this team wants to retain any realistic hope of flipping this series. Outside of an elimination game, you don’t more “must-win” than what the Wolves face tonight.

WCF (Gm 3) is MUST-WIN for Minnesota Timberwolves

If they lose, this series is all but over. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this iteration of the Minnesota Timberwolves is not going to become the FIRST NBA TEAM EVER to come back from a 0-3 playoff deficit.

Yes, you read that right. The NBA is 77 years old and there have been 159 playoff series in that time where teams have jumped out to a 3-0 lead. And not one time in 159 opportunities has anyone successfully completed a 0-3 series comeback.

In fact, only THREE teams in NBA history have recovered from a 0-3 playoff deficit, to force a deciding game seven (before ultimately losing) — 1951 Knicks (vs Rochester Royals), 1993 Trail Blazers (vs Mavericks), 2023 Celtics (vs Heat).

Through two games of the 2025 Western Conference Finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been outplayed by the Oklahoma City Thunder in just about every facet of the series, especially in the second half of both games, where the Thunder have outscored the Wolves 130-93.

With plenty of help from his referee friends, newly named 2024-25 NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has taken over this series, scoring 31 points (11/14 FT) in game one and 38 points (13/15 FT) in game two. His phony superpower to deceive referees, combined with unbelievable skill have made him all but impossible to stop so far in this series.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over his last 5 games:

38 PTS – 3 REB – 8 AST
31 PTS – 5 REB – 9 AST
35 PTS – 3 REB – 4 AST
32 PTS – 6 AST – 69% FG
31 PTS – 6 REB – 7 AST

Appreciate greatness 🔥

(Via @realapp_ ) pic.twitter.com/3fGn59EVC8

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 23, 2025

Anthony Edwards is the Timberwolves’ only hope.

So… how do the Minnesota Timberwolves turn this series around? Well, it won’t be easy and any hope they still have of making things interesting resides with our young superstar, Anthony Edwards.

For the past two years, NBA pundits have argued about whether or not Anthony Edwards is the next face of the league, even “the next Jordan”. But so far in this series, and throughout too many games in his playoff career, Ant has come up short.

Related: Most Still Ignore SGA’s Phony Superpower, but the Real Ones Know…

That has proven especially true in this series, where Edwards — who is averaging 25 points, 9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in this series (26.2 PTS, 8.2 REB, 5.7 AST in the 2025 playoffs) has been limited to just 44% from the field and 23.5% from deep vs the Thunder.

Ant has repeatedly voiced frustration over a difficulty in getting to his spots, against the swarming OKC defense. For those who know Edwards’ game, that essentially means he’s struggling to find room for his lethal dribble-drives to the hoop.

🔒 Après Nikola Jokic, Anthony Edwards.

Alex Caruso 🥚, 𝗟𝗘 𝗠𝗘𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗨𝗥 𝗗𝗘́𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗘𝗨𝗥 de ces playoffs ?pic.twitter.com/llSdhu28UE

— Basket USA 🏀 (@basketusa) May 21, 2025

"The 27 points [Anthony Edwards has] been averaging, that's not going to cut the mustard. He's gotta average 35-40 for them to even stand a chance."@KendrickPerkins has the Thunder winning this series in six games or fewer 😯 pic.twitter.com/zRpMw7s0rW

— First Take (@FirstTake) May 21, 2025

But the time for frustrations and “figuring things out” is over. It’s time for Anthony Edwards to do whatever it takes in order to get this series back on track. The time for being a good teammate has come and gone. “Making the right play” is out the window.

Saturday night might as well be do-or-die. Anthony Edwards needs to hit the floor tonight, ready to put up 75 points, if that’s what it takes to get a victory. Ant needs to feel things out in the first quarter. Give the struggling Naz Reid, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Donte DiVincenzo a few opportunities, early on.

Time for Anthony Edwards to channel his inner Kobe, MJ…

If they do not cash in, or should those role players go cold at any point during the game, then Edwards needs to channel his inner 2005-06 Kobe Bryant. Not late-career Kobe, who like to get his teammates involved.

No, I’m talking about the 27-year-old, I’m the best player in the world and the ball needs to be in my hands at all times Kobe, who took over 27 shots per game and scored a league-high 35.4 points per game.

Bryant averaged just over 25 points per playoff game in his NBA career. But out of the 43 postseason series he played in, Kobe put up over 30 points per game in only 12 of them… and the Lakers won NINE of those twelve series.

On this day in 2008, 2009, & 2010, Kobe Bryant advanced to 3 straight NBA Finals, by beating the Spurs, Nuggets, and Suns

Kobe in the Closeout Games:

2008: 39 Points
2009: 35 Points
2010: 37 Points

Here’s some Highlights from those 3 Legendary Games pic.twitter.com/J6B80vq8in

— KBs GOAT (@KbsGoat) May 29, 2023

Want the Michael Jordan comp? MJ averaged an absurd 33.4 points in the 37 playoff series he participated in from 1985-1998. He put up 45 PPG twice, once in 1988 against the Cavs, the other in 1992 vs the Heat. Jordan’s Bulls won both of those series.

Related: Timberwolves Big Man Rudy Gobert Narrowly Makes Another NBA All-Defensive Team

During Michael Jordan’s career, the Chicago Bulls went 24-4 in playoff series where MJ averaged 30 or more points per game. In series where MJ averaged less than 30 in the postseason, the Bulls finished 6-3. The greatest of all time show up for their team in the biggest moments, especially in the points column. And that’s what wins.

Michael Jordan becomes the first player in NBA history with back-to-back 50-point playoff games 🐐 pic.twitter.com/7ROaBeiZke

— Fastbreak Hoops (@FastbreakHoops5) August 25, 2024

The MN Timberwolves need Ant and they need him now.

I know Anthony Edwards considers himself a student of the game. That means he should know that, historically speaking, great teams only become great because their superstars take over in the NBA Playoffs, whenever necessary.

And so far in his young professional career, Ant has yet to prove he’s willing/capable of doing that, when it’s required. Tonight, he needs to change that narrative because the Minnesota Timberwolves chances at an NBA Finals appearance hinges on an Edwards takeover. If he can’t do it, this series is over. He clearly knows that.

Anthony Edwards reportedly stayed up until 3AM watching Game 1 film with an assistant coach, per @MarcJSpears 👀

(h/t @ClutchPoints)pic.twitter.com/lLHfqX6huE

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 22, 2025

So no more, “they won’t let me get to my spots”. Nobody let Jordan or Kobe get to their spots in the playoffs either. But guess what, they did it anyway. So how big time are you, Anthony Edwards? Do you have what it takes to be great? Can you handle all that superstar smoke? We’re about to find out.

One of the early irritants was Dillon Brooks, when he played for Memphis and they battled the Minnesota Timberwolves in two straight NBA Play-In Tournaments. Last year, we grew frustrated with how impossible Nikola Jokic is to stop, no matter which avenue you choose to slow him down. Then, there’s Luka Doncic and his constant whining to officials… etc.

But through two games of the 2024-25 Western Conference Finals, the NBA’s newly-named Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has quickly made us all miss Luka’s patented hands up, crybaby face and Joker’s artistic abilities as a big man.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ruining basketball

No matter how crazy those things once drove us, they did not ruin the game of basketball for everybody watching. The same cannot be said for Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s phony superpower to deceive NBA referees made him into the 2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player.

SGA GRABS the defenders arm and gets 2 free throws 💀 pic.twitter.com/tfMbQkOUr2

— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) May 23, 2025

They called this a foul on Jaden McDaniels. Shai’s steps right in between his legs and pulls his foot back against Jaden’s foot. There’s no contact. Shai is pushing him with his arm and generates all the contact. pic.twitter.com/v0ZqjeufA9

— will jones ⚒️ (@Will_d_jones) May 21, 2025

The way SGA initiates contact with defenders, then flops to the ground, in order to draw a foul, makes the beautiful game of basketball into a maddening broadway play starring SGA and what appears a hypnotic spell that he holds over NBA refs night in and night out.

Sure, the Minnesota Timberwolves have played like crap through two games, including two devastating third quarters that have pretty much ended both contests early. And what these OKC Thunder sympathizers all simultaneously argue is correct. Playing against Shai and the Thunder is a mental and physical grind.

Related: Timberwolves Big Man Rudy Gobert Narrowly Makes Another NBA All-Defensive Team

What pundits and former players like Jason Williams (ESPN) and Brendan Haywood (NBA TV) refuse to acknowledge, however, is that OKC’s swarming defense is only a part of that maddening equation. In fact, I’d argue it is a small percentage of what wears down Thunder opponents… but here are the arguments anyway.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranks 23rd in free throw attempts among players who averaged 30+ PPG since 2005 — and just 10th among the last 20 MVPs

Maybe the ‘foul merchant’ talk is overblown 😬

pic.twitter.com/t6QvdqAMbh

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 22, 2025

** Free-Throw Merchant MVP**

They called it greatness when MJ, Kobe & LeBron did it. Now it’s fraud when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does? Wild. pic.twitter.com/sUzUkYj5PD

— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) May 23, 2025

Toss out whatever stats and free throw numbers you want, guys. All of the evidence is right there in front of us while the game is unfolding. Much of Shai’s greatness is built on his foul-baiting mastermind capabilities. The numbers all become irrelevant when you watch just one game.

‘The Minnesota Timberwolves are crumbling under OKC’s defensive pressure…’

This one is my favorite. The idea that Minnesota can’t mentally withstand the toll OKC put on defensively for 48 minutes. Come on, have we all forgotten that the Timberwolves haven’t taken care of the basketball all year.

Now, we are supposed to believe that turnovers vs the Thunder are suddenly driving the Minnesota Timberwolves off a mental ledge in the Western Conference Finals? That this is somehow the first time these professional basketball players have been pressed and suffocated by opportunistic defenders during the course of their basketball lives?

Thankfully, some sanity still remains in this world. Not everyone who watches these games is buying into the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander propaganda machine. There are some, like former Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone, who have realized what is happening. Here’s Malone after game one, then again after game two.

"[Shai] showed why he's the MVP."

Mike Malone, former coach of the Denver Nuggets, calls SGA the MVP 👀 pic.twitter.com/v8J4m4QOil

— Underdog (@Underdog) May 21, 2025

Malone: "It's almost impossible. A lot of times offensive players like Shai will initiate the contact or hook his arm looking to draw that contact. He is a foul artist" https://t.co/Kr8ODLnZd6 pic.twitter.com/a1MvBKDT13

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 23, 2025

Mike Malone, others not buy Shai Gilgeous-Alexander propaganda

Have at that mainstream narrative if you want it. But to me, the only thing noticeably different about playing against the Oklahoma City Thunder — as opposed to other teams, at any and all levels of the game — is the referee whistle that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets, compared to anyone else who as played… ever.

Then, let’s toss in the physicality OKC plays defense with — along with the calls Minnesota isn’t getting on the other end — and yeah, there is going to be a high level of frustration building up, especially for those tasked with the impossible responsibility of limiting Shai. Just ask Jaden McDaniels…

Jaden is all of us. We are Jaden. pic.twitter.com/GFyBO3D6tf

— John Meyer (@meyerNBA) May 23, 2025

Jaden McDaniels on his flagrant call after shoving Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander:

"I just wanted to foul him. I wasn't even mad I just had fouls to use" pic.twitter.com/8bVd7cHHKY

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 23, 2025

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Star Anthony Edwards Fined Again

Others obviously see it too (including Naz Reid). Hell, all you need is two working eyeballs, something referees clearly do not have when they officiate a game including SGA.

Naz Reid to the OKC Thunder 👀

“Stop flopping, That’s bad hoop bro.” pic.twitter.com/SQZD3uehPF

— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) May 23, 2025

Is it safe to say that Shai has passed prime Harden as a generational free throw merchant? Grabbing a defenders arm and getting free throws is CRAZY work 🤷🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/sK2YzsdpLy

— Jacob (@Jacobtheclipper) May 23, 2025

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ruining basketball.

And no matter the stat you show me, it won’t take away from what I watched last night. pic.twitter.com/FPkTezlg1J

— Leighton James (@LGlodek) May 21, 2025

It wasn’t just Shai that was a detriment to Minnesota in Game 1 though. It started when 90% of the team forgot how to shoot. That was exacerbated by a poor coaching performance from Chris Finch, who didn’t get much help from his young superstar, Anthony Edwards, who apparently left his hero cape in Minneapolis.

Just like Gilgeous-Alexander excels at flopping his way to the foul line, former ESPN First Take tag-team partner Skip Bayless has a talent for shocking his way into sports media relevance. We don’t hate on success here, though. People eat up Skip’s outlandish takes. That’s why FOX paid him over $50 million to spew them from 2016-2024.

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Edwards gets ‘Can’t Man’ nickname

And over the past couple months, Bayless — who is from Oklahoma City and does not hide his OKC thunder fandom — has had rising Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards in his hyperbolic crosshairs.

Unsurprisingly, the Wolves’ Game 1 loss on Tuesday night did not draw any sympathy from Skip, who recently created a new nickname for “Ant-Man”, renaming him “Can’t-Man”.

CAN’T MAN IS OVERHYPED AND OVERRATED pic.twitter.com/7OqZwrUXFO

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 21, 2025

“All of a sudden SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) went MVP on the Timberwolves while Ant Man, right on schedule, turned into Can’t Man. He just can’t. Second half, fourth quarters, playoffs. I told you going into this, way too often in big playoff game fourth quarters, he has been Can’t Man…The worst player on the floor, says plus/minus, was Can’t Man tonight…I told you, Can’t Man is overhyped and overrated.”

Skip Bayless – X

Look, Skip Bayless may have media’s most punchable face. Most agree on that. Still, Stephen A. Smith’s old Cold Pizza and First Take co-star brings up some valid points. In game one, it’s hard to deny Ant’s disappearing act.

It wasn’t that he was terrible as much as he was nonexistent. Even Edwards was first to admit postgame that his 13 total shots on Tuesday night — 18 points on 3-of-8 from deep — are unacceptable for a guy who wants to be mentioned in MVP conversations sooner than later.

Off-ball Ant is coming for blood in game two… pic.twitter.com/uL1a8kZlqC

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) May 21, 2025

Of course, Ant is not overrated or overhyped. I’m not even sure Skip really believes that himself. But that doesn’t really matter to Bayless. He’s decided that Anthony Edwards is his next LeBron, who he’s been dragging down for decades.

Related: NBA Pundits Agree: Flopping Shai is a Problem for the League, Not Just Timberwolves

Nonetheless, our 23-year-old superstar did not play well in Game 1, and thus, I expect him to bounce back with vengeance in game 2, something that should scare the heck out of Oklahoma City.

No matter what Skip Bayless tries to speak into existence, Edwards is a generational talent in this league and he’ll show that off in this series just like he did in the first two (which Skip has conveniently forgotten about).

If you’re a Timberwolves fan trying to make the trip to OKC for games one and/or two, don’t order through TicketMaster, which has geographical restrictions on who can and cannot buy tickets. Read more on that crazy story, HERE.

If Minnesota can grab a road win to start off the Western Conference Finals, as they have done early in each of their previous two series, momentum in this series will change nearly immediately.

Western Conference Finals Picks and Predictions: Minnesota Timberwolves vs Oklahoma City Thunder

NBA oddsmakers don’t see that happening, though. All the major sportsbooks have Minnesota as sizable underdogs, not just Tuesday night in game one, but in the series too. And it’s not just Vegas doubting them.

Most national media members have the Thunder advancing to the NBA Finals over the Wolves too, despite this being the ladder’s second-straight trip to the West Finals, not to mention the difficulties OKC had putting away the Nuggets in round two.

Report: Rudy Gobert Dumps Pregnant Girlfriend, Kicks Her Out of House

Nonetheless, the vast majority of NBA experts are leaning into the odds, especially at The Athletic and NBA.com, where 15 of 17 pundits are picking the Thunder. Remember, the Minnesota Timberwolves can proved these “experts” wrong, they’ll be off to the first NBA Finals in franchise history.

The immediate storyline in this series is Anthony Edwards vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Those are the two superstars who have the capability of single-handedly dictating the outcome in these Western Conference Finals.

These two split four games during the regular season, but they have not played since February and Julius Randle only played in the first game between the two. And you have to believe the Minnesota Timberwolves are desperate to prove last year’s West Finals were a fluke.

Related: Shaq Retells Story Proving NBA (Probably) Rigged 1992 Draft Lottery Against the Timberwolves

Over at ESPN, they seem to have believe more in that eventual reality than their colleagues at other national mainstream media outlets. Still, there are more doubters than believers over at ESPN, too. Out of 13 NBA experts at the four-letter network, a whopping FIVE picked the Wolves.

Still, the Thunder are doing their best to make sure that their home-court advantage in this seven-game set doesn’t go to waste. If you are a Minnesota Timberwolves fan (or even a Thunder fan) who does not live in the OKC local viewing area (Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Nebraska), then you are not allowed to purchase tickets through the team’s (and NBA’s) direct ticket sales partner, TicketMaster.com for this series.

OKC Thunder won’t sell WCF tickets to out of town Minnesota Timberwolves fans (or anyone else)

They aren’t hiding it, either. When you navigate to the OKC Thunder Ticketmaster site, you get this ***VERY IMPORTANT*** disclaimer at the top of the page (H/T to @UltimateNBA_H on X for noticing this and putting it on the internet).

All sales to this event will be restricted to residents of Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Nebraska will be canceled without notice and refunds given.

TicketMaster – Oklahoma City Thunder Playoff Games

😳🤯WAIT, can I seriously not go support my @Timberwolves in Game 1 & 2 vs OKC Thunder!? I’m trying to checkout and getting a message that my order will be canceled because I’m not a resident!! pic.twitter.com/36gCVblEAR

— Catrell Maclin (@UltimateNBA_H) May 19, 2025

I have never heard of this before. A team telling its official ticket vending partner that it cannot sell tickets to anyone outside of a certain geographical area assumedly that is much more likely to have their own fans in it, as opposed to outside of that area (like Minnesota and the surrounding states).

Related: Shaq Retells Story Proving NBA (Probably) Rigged 1992 Draft Lottery Against the Timberwolves

Just to be sure that this is not an unknown thing around the league, I checked the Minnesota Timberwolves’, New York Knicks’ and Indiana Pacers’ Ticketmaster sites and confirmed that there is no such mention of geographical restrictions when you purchase tickets for any other home venue of the four teams remaining in the 2025 NBA Playoffs other than the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Paycom Center.

Just imagine being that afraid of road fans taking over your arena. Be better, OKC Thunder. Be better.

As the season wore on, however, head coach Chris Finch and his team began to find their stride. Since Julius Randle returned from injury, they’ve been playing championship level basketball.

Despite entering the playoffs as the 6-seed, Minnesota easily dispatched the 3-seed Los Angeles Lakers in five games. They they did the same to an Steph Curry-less Golden State Warriors. And just like that, the Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves in the Western Conference Finals for the second-straight season.

Thunder open as significant favorites against Minnesota Timberwolves

While the Wolves were run off the court by the Dallas Mavericks in their first appearance, this is a much different team than last year’s squad. After dominating their first two series, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said they should be the favorites to win it all.

Well, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets in game seven of their West semifinals series on Sunday, meaning we get Ant vs Shai to go to the NBA Finals. And the early odds, do not give the Minnesota Timberwolves much of a shot at beating the No. 1 seed Thunder. In fact, OKC is -375 favorites.

A -375 line suggests an outcome predictability at 78.95%. That means the Timberwolves enter the Western Conference Finals with a predicted winning percentage of just over 20%. If that number is shocking to you, you’re probably not alone.

Yes, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been the NBA’s best team all season long. Yes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and the rest of Mark Daigneault’s rotation is incredibly talented. They’re also a young group who’s never been there before, coming in after a hard-fought seveg games vs Denver.

Related: Rudy Gobert Dumps Pregnant Girlfriend, Kicks Her Out of House

Minnesota has been resting since wrapping up their series with the Warriors on Wednesday at Target Center. By the time the West Finals start on Tuesday, the Wolves will have had five days of rest.

The Timberwolves probably need to steal a game or two early in the series if they hope to turn the betting markets. They have won their first road game in each of their last two series. They will try to continue that trend Tuesday.

These aren’t the same Timberwolves

Minnesota and Oklahoma City split the season series. Only once did Julius Randle play, and it happened during their first matchup. He was just 32 games into his Timberwolves career at that point, and the team had yet to find a rotation that worked.

The last time these two teams played each other on February 24, the Timberwolves were just 32-27, and a much different team than they are now.

For the first time in NBA history, there will be 7 different champions in 7 years.

— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) May 18, 2025

This NBA playoffs has provided plenty of intrigue and even more exciting games. It’s going to give us a new champion for the seventh-straight season. This is one of the best opportunities Minnesota has had to end the title drought that has plagued the power-four sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL) for decades.

Fans would love to see the Vikings win it all given the popularity of the NFL. A Twins World Series parade to go along with those from 1987 and 1991 would be unreal. A first Stanley Cup for the State of Hockey needs to happen.

There may be no better way to send Glen Taylor packing, usher Kevin Garnett back in, and cement Anthony Edwards as the face of the league then advancing to and winning the NBA Finals.

After somehow finding a way to lose game one — after Steph Curry suffered a grade one hamstring strain in the second quarter that he has yet to return from — the Warriors have dropped three-straight to the Wolves.

We’re all dying to see the Timberwolves get back to the West Finals, but there’s no doubt Curry’s injury ruined what could have been a historically great series full of twists, turns and storylines galore. And that part sucks.

Steph Curry ruled out for game five – Timberwolves vs Warriors

Since Steph’s official diagnosis came to light, optimists have looked to game five as Curry’s earliest (plausible) return date. Hope faded, however, when the Wolves opened as massive -11.5 point favorites. If Curry is playing, that spread doesn’t exist. Late Tuesday night, the official report broke (via Anthony Slater – The Athletic): No Steph Curry for game five.

Steph Curry is out tomorrow for Game 5 in Minnesota. The Warriors officially face elimination without their star guard.

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 13, 2025

Steph Curry missing another game of this series isn’t the only news Slater dropped late Tuesday. In game four, the Golden State Warriors needed Jimmy Butler to get into his time machine and pull out a star performance, in order to threaten the Wolves’ takeover of this series.

Jimmy Butler was sick in game four vs Minnesota Timberwolves…

Instead, the Warriors got arguably Butler’s the worst performance of these first four games, posting just 14 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. At times, he even looked disinterested, only totalling nine field goal attempts all night. Butler also finished game four as a -30 in 34 minutes played.

Related: What We Learned About the Timberwolves in Overpowering Game 4 Win Over Warriors

Apparently, there was a reason (or excuse) for Jimmy’s no-show. According to what Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told media on Tuesday, the former Bull – turned Wolf – turned Sixer – turned Heat – turned Warrior… was dealing with a significant illness that was NOT listed on the team’s status report before the game.

Steve Kerr called Jimmy Butler's illness yesterday "definitely impactful." He went from 26 shots in G3 to nine in G4. Kerr: "But he's feeling better and he'll be ready to go tomorrow." Steph Curry remains out but did make the trip with the team.

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 14, 2025

Kerr is confident Butler is feeling much better entering game five, and Golden State expects him to be back to more of his normal self. Of course, prior to game four, they weren’t even willing to acknowledge that he had this debilitating illness in the first place.

One thing is for sure, though. We can confirm that Jimmy Butler can talk tough all he wants, but his mental toughness isn’t Michael Jordan’s. We’ll see if a now healthy Jimmy can make an impact on game five, when the Warriors need him most.

They did it on the back of Julius Randle’s 31 points and 5 rebounds, assisted by a superstar 3rd quarter appearance by Anthony Edwards, where his 16 points nearly outscored the 17 points Golden State scored as a team.

Of course, this series has been defined by the absence of Steph Curry, after he was pulled in the 2nd quarter of game one with a grade one hamstring strain. Now, after three-straight Timberwolves wins, the Warriors find themselves going back to Minneapolis, on the brink of elimination.

Timberwolves vs Warriors (Gm 5) Betting Odds are shocking

The biggest questions entering game five are simple. Will Steph Curry return? If not, do the Golden State Warriors stand any chance of stealing one game from Minnesota without their one superstar? Well, an early look at the betting odds may prematurely answer both those questions.

Not only are the Minnesota Timberwolves favored by sportsbooks to win game five and close out the Warriors on Wednesday… but they are MASSIVE -11.5 point favorites.

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Steph Curry clearly is not playing in game five. If there were even a chance that he were going to suit up and take the court that the Timberwolves would be double-digit favorites to win.

And without Steph, Vegas sees what those with any basketball sense whatsoever sees while watching these games. The Minnesota Timberwolves are a far superior team to the Golden State Warriors, even without Curry. Now, you take him out altogether, and the Wolves are toying with them.

The Golden State Warriors cannot hang with the Minnesota Timberwolves

Think about it. Anthony Edwards and most of the Minnesota roster has slept through every first half of this series, just to come out in the second half of these last three games and knock the Warriors out cold with one haymaker run. Jimmy Butler is 35 years old and afraid of Rudy Gobert.

Related: What We Learned About the Timberwolves in Overpowering Game 4 Win Over Warriors

Draymond Green is mostly a non-factor and Jonathan Kuminga couldn’t even find the floor in their first round series against the Rockets. And oddsmakers think it’ll happen before Steph even gets a chance to play hero, on Wednesday in Minneapolis.

If true, it’ll mean the second-straight Western Conference Finals run in as many seasons… something we would have thought was impossible before it we came to the brink of it becoming reality.

Steph Curry remained out for game four, and likely game five too, which is just another reason why the Warriors needed a win so desperately. If they can’t find a way to secure one victory in this series without their superstar, then he may not return in time to play superhero in the final games.

Like we have seen throughout this series, the Timberwolves got off to yet another slow start on Monday night. That allowed Golden State to secure a 28-27 lead at the end of one quarter and a 60-58 lead at half.

But yet again, Minnesota flipped the switch during halftime, and came out looking like a complete different team, lighting the Warriors up for 39 points in the third quarter, alone. Golden State, meanwhile, was just trying to keep up with Anthony Edwards, who nearly outscored them by himself, 16-17 in that period.

say it with us now.

ANT-1. 😤 pic.twitter.com/80wQR05jBy

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 13, 2025

Just like that, the Wolves found themselves leading by 20 points going into the fourth quarter, a lead they held into garbage time. Because without Steph available to shoot them back into it, and Jimmy Butler looking like a shell of his former self, 20 points is a deficit this Warriors team is not capable of coming back from.

What We Learned – Minnesota Timberwolves vs Golden State Warriors (Gm 4)

When the dust settled on game four, the Minnesota Timberwolves stood on top 117-110. Julius Randle scored a game-high 31 points and kept the Wolves in the game early, while others were slow to get going. Jaden McDaniels put up a double-double, with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and others made big contributions too.

The final score makes game three look like a way closer contest than what it was, at least in the second half. That was mostly thanks to sloppy play by the Wolves’ B-squad, which allowed the Warriors B-squad to bring it within two possessions by the final buzzer.

Nonetheless, it’s a W and a 3-1 series lead. Minnesota went to San Francisco and took care of business… twice. Now, they get their aforementioned opportunity to close things out in game five, back in Minnesota.

So, here is what we learned about the Timberwolves during their game four dub (other than the fact that the Warriors can’t hang, especially without Steph Curry).

Thank the basketball gods (and Tim Connelly) for Julius Randle

In the first half Monday night, with Anthony Edwards once again off to a slow start, Minnesota needed Julius Randle to be a calming force offensively. So, per usual, the 30-year-old former No. 7 overall pick out of Kentucky did what was asked of him.

He lead all first half scorers with 19 points (including 3-of-5 from deep), to go with his 5 first half rebounds. He also scored the Wolves’ first five points of the game, after Golden State jumped out to an early 5-0 lead.

Julius Randle is up to 10 in the 1Q 🔥

Timberwolves (2-1) Warriors going back and forth to start Game 4!

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/Blf9SOMGq6

— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2025

If you would have told me back in January that Julius Randle would be the Minnesota Timberwolves playoff MVP through their first seven wins of the postseason, I would have laughed at you.

Don’t get me wrong, Randle has been contributing big minutes all regular season, where he averaged 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.7 points per game. But he struggled to find where he belonged in the Wolves offense, not to mention his lack of effort oftentimes on the defensive end.

Related: Video Surfaces Proving NBA Refs Will Allow Just About Any Crime Against Rudy Gobert

But after sitting out for all of February with injury, Julius got an opportunity to watch the Minnesota offense work without him. And when he came back, he immediately looked like a much more natural fit in the Wolves offense. Since the playoff started, that has only intensified, as has his defense.

Now, Randle has become the Wolves baby blanket. Whether they need him to take the ball up the court and act as a point forward, or they need a bucket to stop a run, even a big stop on defense, head coach Chris Finch has learned that he can call Julius Randle’s number for just about anything right now, and he will deliver.

Julius Randle has been absolutely masterful in this series. pic.twitter.com/anGxrlixtg

— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) May 13, 2025

Minnesota Timberwolves love playing down to their competition early in games

As they have way too often in these playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves came out slow in game four. The Golden State Warriors jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, before Julius Randle realized he needed to calm the waters. But while it seems like the Timberwolves like to fall behind all the time, it has been especially bad in this series.

Why? Well, I have a theory. Minnesota knows that, especially without Steph Curry, they are a much better team than this iteration of the Golden State Warriors. Thus, the Wolves continue to come out of the opening gates lacking playoff-level intensity and focus.

At the end of the day, this team goes as Anthony Edwards does. And when the best player on the floor, outside of him, is a 35-year-old Jimmy Butler and washed up Draymond Green… it’s harder for him to get up for tip-off. I mean look at this kid. He might want Steph back in the series even more than Warriors fans do.

Anthony Edwards practicing the “night night” celly before the game..

Have some damn shame bro 😭 y’all would be getting smoked if Steph was healthy pic.twitter.com/yWhmX8dtQT

— Steph Curry Muse (@StephMuse_) May 13, 2025

Of course, that’s not the best mentality to have. But at the end of the day, human nature almost always wins. And when you know you have a vastly superior team than your opponent, it’s more difficult to stay 100% engaged and locked in.

The Anthony Edwards we saw in round one never made it to San Francisco. He’s still back in LA talking shit to LeBron and flinging spider webs at Luka Doncic. Let’s be real, that hits different than flinging webs at Jonathan Kuminga or Buddy Hield.

Anthony Edwards takeover begins in, 3…2…1…

Anthony Edwards scored 14 points in the first half of game four, and his final three points of those first 24 minutes came in the final second, when he hit a deep step back three-pointer on two Warriors to close the half. While the Minnesota Timberwolves entered the second half down 58-60, you knew Golden State was in trouble after this.

And wouldn’t you know it, that is exactly how the 2nd half went. After scoring 14 points the entire first half, Anthony Edwards scored 16 points in the third quarter, nearly outscoring the entire Warriors team.

🚨ANTHONY EDWARDS AT THE BUZZER🚨

pic.twitter.com/wWIhEg7RxO

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 13, 2025

The third quarter Wolves onslaught on Monday night was so detrimental that, by the end of the period, Golden State had gone from up two points… to down twenty, after Minnesota outscored them 39-17. All this goes back to a point I have been making since before this series started, and especially after Curry went out with injury.

Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Announcer Lands a Couple More Jobs

Unless the Minnesota Timberwolves play like absolute trash, the Golden State Warriors — just like the LA Lakers before them — do not stand a chance. The Wolves have too much star power, followed up with waaaaayyy too much depth behind them. Most other NBA teams, including the Warriors, have one or the other.

ANTHONY EDWARDS IS TAKING OVER ‼️

He's got 28 PTS on 6 3PM…

Midway through the 3Q 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TCMnKn16bp

— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2025

Edwards hot third quarter was eventually put out by foul trouble. But by then, it was too late. The Minnesota Timberwolves were already up 20 and his teammates were already following their superstars lead by knocking down shots of their own, including Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker even went a perfect 5-of-5 on the night, good for 11 points. In game six, it feels like the Warriors will need Steph Curry to stand a chance, especially if Jimmy Butler isn’t going to show up. We’ll see if they those dreams come true.