OKC’s Shai-Gilgeous will be out for redemption after the Game 3 embarrassment.
Image Credit – Brad Rempel – Imagn Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves will be playing at the Target Center in the Game 4 against the OKC Thunder. After dropping two on the road, their Game 3 win sparked new life into the series. Game 3 was a must win and the Twolves led by Anthony Edwards delivered.
However, the job is far from over with the Monday showdown as much important as the last one. The OKC Thunder despite losing on Saturday still have a 2-1 lead. NBA analyst Charles Barkley didn’t sugarcoat the Saturday win, he made it clear the Timberwolves are still on the edge.
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Barkley while analysing the game said, “Obviously, Minnesota had to play with desperation, they did. All the pressure is still on Minnesota. Tomorrow is a must-win for Minnesota, it’s not a must-win for OKC. All Minnesota did was get kind of back in the series. They extended it, now they have to win tomorrow.”
He added, “OKC does not have to win it in Minnesota, they can make it a shorter series. And the one thing you have to understand, whether they win by 1 or 40, it don’t matter. It’s still one game. All the pressure tomorrow is still on the Timberwolves. Because if they don’t win tomorrow, they’ll be done Game 5.”
Charles Barkley is on point here when discussing about the game 4. If Timberwolves fall on Monday, they could very well be done by game 5. Even the NBA Playoffs history suggests that 98% of the sides that have trailed 3-1 in a series haven’t come back from it.
Defensive Focus Crucial For Wolves
Minnesota Timberwolves will have to work even harder to stop the OKC Thunder in the game 4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and co. will be highly motivated after the embarrassing 101-143 game 3 result.
Defense will be the difference again. In Game 3, Minnesota clamped down on MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and they must do it again. They stopped the very Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who was declared the Most Valuable Player this season. Timberwolves need to double guard the Canadian especially while on a scoring spree.
Whenever, SGA is silent on the offense, OKC Thunder have been seen slipping away. The 26-year-old is like a glue that binds the whole team together. Shut him down, and OKC’s rhythm collapses.