It’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals Saturday night at Target Center in Minneapolis.
The Thunder rolled to a pair of home wins to open the series — 114-88 in Game 1 and 118-103 in Game 2.
The game is a playoff homecoming for Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, who grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Minnehaha Academy before playing one year of college basketball at Gonzaga.
Here what you need to know about the Thunder-Timberwolves game:
Thunder vs Timberwolves live score updates in Game 3 of NBA Playoffs
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This is as comfortable as the Thunder have sat entering Game 3 of any series this postseason. But it can’t exactly relax.
Each game has looked differently, a level of volatility Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault is bracing for. Game 1 saw Julius Randle and the Wolves erupt in the first half, only to deflate in the final 24 minutes. Game 2 saw the Thunder take the lid off the game with an explosive third quarter run, firing a galore of midrange jumpers.
It’s unclear what might be in store Saturday. Daigneault is coaching for that.
“The game’s gonna have its own life,” he said. “Tonight’s a completely new chapter in the series.”
— Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Chris Finch rattled off a to-do list for the Timberwolves if they’re to win Game 3.
Defend without fouling: “We’ve got to foul them a little less,” Finch said before tip-off Saturday night. “We’re fouling them too much, that’s for sure.”
Hustle: “They’ve beaten us to every 50/50 ball,” Finch said.
Group effort against SGA: “It’s not a one-man job,” he added.
The Timberwolves have to win Game 3 to get back in this series, and all of those will be keys for Minnesota on Saturday night.
— Joe Mussatto, Columnist
Date: Saturday, May 24Time: 7:30 p.m. CTWhere: Target Center in Minneapolis
The Thunder vs Timberwolves game starts at 7:30 p.m. CT Saturday from Target Center in Minneapolis.
The Thunder vs Timberwolves game will be broadcast on ABC. It can be streamed on Fubo and ESPN+.
Western Conference finals: Thunder vs. Timberwolves
Thunder vs. Timberwolves betting odds
Odds via BetMGM as of Saturday, May 24
Odds: Thunder by 2.5
Over/under: 217.5
Moneyline: OKC -150 | Minnesota +125
Thunder vs. Timberwolves prediction, picks
Justin Martinez: Minnesota 110, OKC 108
It’s hard to win a game in Oklahoma City. Every mistake is magnified by an electric Paycom Center crowd, and that energy fuels some huge OKC runs. But Minnesota will have the home crowd on its side this time, and it’ll be desperate to avoid a 3-0 series hole. I think the Thunder will win this series in five games, and I’m picking the Timberwolves’ lone win to come in Game 3.
Thunder vs. Timberwolves highlights in Game 3 of Western Conference finals
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