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.

And game one played out just as the sportsbooks expected, only worse. A 114-88 blowout Thunder win. While the Wolves did themselves no favors, shooting (15-of-51 from deep) and turning the ball over 19 times (leading to 31 points OKC points off turnovers), it was Shai’s close-knit relationship with NBA referees that stole the show, postgame.

Minnesota Timberwolves fighting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander + NBA referees

Commonly known as “The Free Throw Merchant”, Gilgeous-Alexander drew so many ridiculous referee whistles Tuesday night that it often felt like they were shooting a 2000s Juelz Santana music video. In the second half, when the Minnesota Timberwolves went ice-cold from deep, it was time for the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Show, starring Shai and the Refs.

A little flop here, a trip there and well-timed flail of here… the MVP went 11-of-14 from the free throw line. The Wolves went 15-of-21 as a team. No other player on either team shot more than seven free throws in game one.

And it isn’t just locally that Shai’s flop whistles are garnering attention. Nationally, many pundits around the league saw what Minnesota Timberwolves fans did. The whistle SGA gets is unlike anything ever really seen before and it’s something that can, in and of itself, shift an entire playoff series. The Ringer’s Bill Simmons talked about just that, after game one.

“I feel like Shai is getting this whistle that nobody else in the playoffs is getting.”@BillSimmons and @ZachLowe_NBA react to Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. pic.twitter.com/DScRLtHmew

— The Ringer (@ringer) May 21, 2025

“I feel like Shai is getting this whistle that nobody else in the playoffs is getting. Where there’s these little touch fouls, or these bumps where you’re not even sure who initiated the bumps and he’s just getting it. If you’re Minnesota, the one thing you’re going to come out of the game is we have to get a better whistle on these SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) calls.”

Bill Simmons – The Ringer

None of this is to say that SGA isn’t a great player. You don’t score a league-leading 32.7 points per game by accident. But what would he be without the foul calls he piles up game in and game out, that even other NBA superstars (cough Anthony Edwards) do not? He certainly wouldn’t be averaging over 30 points per game, that’s for sure.

Related: Anthony Edwards Unphased by Timberwolves Loss; Shocked by Postgame Box Score

At 7.9 made free throws per game, there isn’t another player in the league who makes more freebies than SGA, the second-straight season that’s been the case. Attacking the rim, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander does so well, will naturally lead to free throws. But other guards attack the rim too, and they don’t get these calls.

SMOOTH AND-1 FROM SHAI ⚡ pic.twitter.com/W0j20WFaUp

— ESPN (@espn) May 21, 2025

At no point to Jaden initiate contact here. pic.twitter.com/RuYtWOHVmo

— Ted (@tlschwerz) May 21, 2025

Chris Finch and the Minnesota Timberwolves knew that Shai’s quick whistle was going to play a part in this series. What they cannot do, is let it affect the ultimate outcome. It’s also up to the referees. They need to watch the tape, too. Because, while SGA & Co. made the Wolves look bad in game one, no doubt the referees look just as bad.

CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn, during his postgame takeaways, noted how effective Shai’s flopping was in game one, and talked for a bit about how big of an issue it is for the NBA. SGA has made foul-baiting such a major part of his game that he has referees eating out of his hand.

“That is the problem here. It’s not that Gilgeous-Alexander is foul-baiting, but that it’s working. The burden here is on the league to both enforce its existing rules properly and to change broken rules that players learn how to exploit. Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday was a reminder to the league to do both, because, despite Oklahoma City’s incredible defensive performance, all anyone is talking about is what the presumptive MVP managed to get away with.”

Sam Quinn – CBS Sports

It’s so bad that games involving the OKC Thunder often turn into unwatchable, slow-moving slop fests that drag out and make playoff basketball unsatisfying to watch. Here, we are used to seeing Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards get completely mugged and receive no help from NBA referees.

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.

Luka Doncic screams at Rudy Gobert

But, with time expiring in the 4th quarter, the home team was up by two points. Then, Luka Doncic put Rudy Gobert on skates right before he hit the game-winning 3-pointer over the DPOY’s head with three seconds remaining. After he hit the shot, he screamed, “LET’S GO MOTHER F*CKER, YOU CAN’T F*CKING GUARD ME” at the back of Rudy’s head.

Here’s the TNT Overtime angle with everything Luka said, including a “let’s go mother f**ker. you cant fucking guard me.” pic.twitter.com/ccfzvfirst

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 25, 2024

But that wasn’t the end of Doncic screaming at people, during the last few seconds of this contest. It was the Timberwolves who, down 108-109, got the last opportunity to put the ball in the basket and walk away with game two.

Luka Doncic screams at Minnesota Timberwolves fans…?

With three seconds remaining, Anthony Edwards caught the inbounds pass from the side-out, took one dribble and kicked to Naz Reid for a game-winning three-pointer, after he was quickly double-teamed.

Before that final shot went up, Naz was 6-of-7 from deep, on the night. Unfortunately, Minnesota needed him to be 7-of-8. After one of the most heart-breaking in-and-outs in Minnesota basketball history, Luka was screaming again, this time at what one can only assume are Wolves fans (or a fan) sitting in the first few rows behind the scorers’ table. “YEAH, GO HOME, B*TCH!”

“Yeah! Go home, bitch!” pic.twitter.com/4wOs07RrxC

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 25, 2024

It’s almost impossible from the broadcast’s video to know who Luka was yelling at, but one thing is for sure, he isn’t just yelling into the stadium or aiming his screams at the Target Center crowd, as a whole. There is definitely a specific target he is aiming those words at. If we find out who it is, we’ll update you.

Related: Chris Finch Lost His Mind a Little Bit During Timberwolves’ Game 1 Film Session

The Minnesota Timberwolves will play game three vs the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, in a game they have no choice but to win. If they go down 3-0, then Charles Barkley will be right about his call for a sweep.

Did Anthony Edwards call out Kyrie Irving?

Was it a surprise that Edwards was guarding arguably Dallas’ most dynamic scorer, certainly their best off-ball shot creator? Nope, because Ant told the world after putting the Denver Nuggets to bed on Sunday that his defensive matchup vs the Mavericks was Kyrie Irving.

“My matchup is gonna be Kyrie so that’s gonna be fun.”

Anthony Edwards shares early thoughts on WCF against the Mavericks. pic.twitter.com/Rej64yxytW

— Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) May 20, 2024

Ernie: “Any thoughts on playing the Mavs [in the next round]?”

Edwards: “It’s gonna be fun, man, you know. Umm, my matchup gonna be Kyrie so that’s gonna be fun. We’ll see what I can do vs him.”

Anthony Edwards after beating the Nuggets in game 7

I was caught by surprise when I heard Anthony Edwards announced that he would be guarding Kyrie Irving, mostly because I wasn’t sure whether or not the Wolves wanted him to disclose that.

Really, there was no guarantee that Ant would be tasked with that matchup, especially given how much the Wolves need Edwards to produce on offense. As was proven last night, it’s difficult to have enough energy offensively when you are chasing Kyrie Irving around on defense all game.

Related: Target Center Roof Leaking During Game 1 of Timberwolves vs Mavericks

What didn’t cross my mind, was whether or not Kyrie would see Ant’s TNT interview as trash talk. But apparently, the former NBA champion did see it that way, at least to some degree.

At the least, Edwards’ postgame interview from the end of that Denver series gave Irving motivation that he used for a monster performance last night. How do we know that? Kyrie got his own postgame interview with TNT after game one and made it clear that he was motivated after Ant ‘called him out’ on national TV.

"I used it as motivation… That's a no fear mentality and that's why we love Ant." 💯

Kyrie on Ant calling him out ahead of Game 1 pic.twitter.com/Mp4zw9Qccl

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 23, 2024

Barkley: “You’re at home minding your business the other night with your family. Probably just chilling, having a nice meal. And then [Anthony Edwards] says ‘I got Kyrie’. That’s the most aggressive you have been, in a long time. I know that had to erk you a little bit?”

Kyrie: “Yeah, I used it as a motivational tool [laughs]. When I was sitting home and I saw it, i was like, ‘this is a nod of respect’ and then also, I know what type of game it was going to be for game one and for the rest of the series.”

I hope Kyrie Irving didn’t actually see what Anthony Edwards said after game 7 and convolute it in his head as trash talk. And I’m not sure how Charles Barkley interpreted it that way either.

Related: BR Names Realistic Wolves Trade Partner if They Blow Up Big Three for Luxury Tax Purposes

If anything, Ant’s mistake was much more based in competitive advantage, than it was bulletin board material. He told Kyrie Irving and the rest of the world who he was guarding in game one. Not only did it allow Dallas to scheme against that, but it also changed Kyrie Irving’s mindset coming in.

Media creating narratives for Minnesota Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks

Like, ‘Oh shit, all eyes are going to be on me and the new face of the NBA. I need to prove I’m still a superstar. At the least, I can’t allow him to embarrass me’.

That might not have been the words that fell out of Kyrie Irving’s mouth when he was sitting at that TNT desk (Barkley and the others were too busy putting words in his mouth for him) but that’s pretty much what the above clips said to me.

Related: Paul Allen Watches Timberwolves Games Exactly How You Would Expect

Once he found out Anthony Edwards was his matchup, he knew he had to bring it, and he did. But all this nonsense that Ant called him out is just media-created propaganda. There’s a reason why ESPN and TNT aren’t showing the clip of Ant’s interview (like we did above).

Because once you actually see the clip, most right-minded individuals would realize that Edwards didn’t call Irving out at all. Maybe he said something dumb, from a competitive advantage standpoint, but he didn’t call anyone out.

Kyle Anderson hit one, Jaden McDaniels hit five (yes, five), Anthony Edwards hit a couple and so did Karl-Anthony Towns too. In total, Minnesota hit 11 three pointers (44%) in the first 24 minutes of play. It was an unbelievable shooting performance.

Target Center roof leaking during Minnesota Timberwolves vs Dallas Mavericks, Game 1?

But it wasn’t just raining Wolves 3’s in Target Center Wednesday night. Apparently, it was raining actual water from the roof, too. At least that appears to be what this video — shot by Zach Halvorson (KFAN) — appears to show and what further video evidence has since began to prove (see below).

Jaden McDaniels' threes 🤝 water from the ceiling

raining inside Target Center pic.twitter.com/6P9xpfGX3e

— Zach Halverson (@ZachHalverson) May 23, 2024

While it may not be raining in Minneapolis tonight, the Twin Cities area has been hit with a blast of recent storms and a lot of rain to go with them. The Target Center roof is fool of shrubbery and one of the only “green” roofs in professional sports. But tonight, it appears mother nature is proving too powerful for the Wolves’ aging home arena.

Target Center opened in 1990, after the Minnesota Timberwolves played their debut NBA season in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. It didn’t take long for the cement hallways and limited concession options became outdated compared to other arenas and stadiums around the country, and soon, others around the Twin Cities.

Now it’s really coming down.

Reminds me of covering Super Bowl XLI in Miami (that’s the Prince / Peyton Manning one).

Sat out in the open. Got soaked.@EvanWFitzgerald @jskurtz07 pic.twitter.com/UlaJjE5wpA

— Chris Long (@ChrisLongKSTP) May 23, 2024

Good chance floor is wet. We were getting rain drops from roof in aux press box at back of 100 level. I ain’t lying … drip, drip, drip.
Water must be pooled on roof from yesterday’s gully washer.

— Patrick Reusse (@Patrick_Reusse) May 23, 2024

Now, it’s by far the oldest building in the metro that is used to house a Minnesota professional sports franchise. Xcel Energy Center (Minnesota Wild – St. Paul) is the closest in age and it opened a decade after Target Center (2000).

Related: Timberwolves Rising Superstar Anthony Edwards Named 2023-24 All-NBA

We’ll make you a deal, Glen, Mark and Alex. You guys win the NBA Finals and we’ll be happy to pay half for a new state of the art facility. Because it would be impossible to argue that the other teams deserve it more than you.

Despite being the fifth seed in these NBA Playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks embark upon the Target Center having just beaten the No. 1 seed OKC Thunder and they’re determined to play spoiler again. These two squads have faced each other four times this season, with Minnesota winning three of them.

Although there is something to be gleaned from those matchups, plenty of that goes out the window when the lights get this bright, especially when you Kyrie Irving didn’t play in three of those four regular season bouts. So, where does the focus turn for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals?

1. The Anthony Edwards vs Kyrie Irving matchup

If you missed it, the Minnesota Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards locked down Jamal Murray in Game 6. Of course, the Denver Nuggets star didn’t give Ant his due, but he made plenty of boneheaded decisions throughout the series, so that’s not surprising. Edwards already focused on Kyrie Irving when speaking after the Game 7 victory, and now we’ll see how that plays out.

“I have not been to Minnesota in probably 20 years” – Charles Barkley

“Bring ya ass” – Anthony Edwards pic.twitter.com/MOtzSzZ7QA

— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) May 20, 2024

Related: Draymond Green Finally Says Something Nice About the Minnesota Timberwolves

Irving is a battle-tested veteran with an NBA championship under his belt. He’s not the same player at 32 years old, but he still averaged more than 25 points per game this season and received comeback player of the year votes. How he pushes Edwards, and to what extent the Timberwolves youngster can lock him down, will be appointment viewing.

2. Can Jaden McDaniels contain Luka Doncic

During the series with the Denver Nuggets it was all about Nikola Jokic. Now the defensive focus shifts from the center position to a small forward. Jaden McDaniels, one of the best defenders in the entire league, will have his hands full when trying to slow the Dallas Mavericks star.

Watch Jaden McDaniels on Jamal Murray through this whole possession. pic.twitter.com/xJ4L2z6yqd

— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) May 17, 2024

Doncic is able to fill it up from all over the court, and he can play both inside and out. McDaniels is seen as more of a perimeter defender, but with his size, it shouldn’t be a mismatch to keep up with Doncic. Throughout the playoffs McDaniels has been something of a savior for the Timberwolves as a second or third option. He will need to remain as much while continuing to bring his calling card defense on a nightly basis.

3. What version of Karl Anthony Towns do Minnesota Timberwolves get?

Chris Finch might be right to call the Minnesota Timberwolves Anthony Edwards’ team. Karl Anthony Towns is the grizzled veteran with tenure though. In this deep playoff run, it’s about the former first overall pick making good on the legacy that Flip Saunders envisioned for him. During the final two games of the Denver Nuggets series, Towns showed up in the absolute best way.

Karl-Anthony Towns was the primary defender on Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic in back-to-back series, credibly guarding Hall of Famers with vastly different skills while also averaging 19 points on 52/44/83 shooting.

And he put the nail in Denver's coffin: pic.twitter.com/ApVwma4ILo

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) May 20, 2024

Related: Flip Saunders is Smiling Down on Timberwolves Dream He Started

Finch and Micah Nori blueprinted a game plan that had Towns locking down Nikole Jokic. It was an impressive performance. What his impact looks like against the Dallas Mavericks remains to be seen, but he will need to stay composed and in control. The most effective part about Towns’ presence in the playoffs has been staying on the court. Avoiding foul trouble and operating as a significant option will give both he and his team the best chance to advance.