Timberwolves are silent to tighten the NBA Playoff series

Anthony Edwards scored 30 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves overwhelmed 143-101 in Oklahoma City on Saturday to tighten their NBA Playoff series.

Edwards added nine rebounds and six assists, while he shot 12 out of 17 from the ground and 5 out of 8 from the three-point range when the T-Wolves withdrew a game in the best-of-seeven western Conference final.

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“I was very happy about the physicality and energy we brought with us,” said Edwards. “Since it is 2-0, it's about bringing energy and we have brought high energy.”

Julius Randle added 24 points for Minnesota, who set up a club record for points in a playoff game to crack the NBA winlers and the NBA-NBA player Shai Gilgeous-Aalexander, which only managed 14 points.

“We were hit in our mouth,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “You are beaten, it's about getting up again. It's about answering. That is the next challenge.”

The Thunder, who won the first two games at home, met the fourth game and the fifth game five on Monday in Minneapolis and on Wednesday in Oklahoma City.

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“I know that everyone is happy about this, but we know that OKC will come out and bring Hella-Energy with you, and you will be ready to go and try to win the fourth game, and we have to try to surpass your energy and achieve a victory,” said Edwards.

“We will be ready.”

Minnesota's victory was crucial because a team of a 3-0 deficit has never recovered to win an NBA playoff series.

“We just didn't make it out of energy and focus,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “We just didn't.

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“You flashed us pretty early and we could never return. We have to come out with a feeling of urgency.”

The T-Wolves set up a club record for points in a playoff game and lead up to 129-84 at the end of the fourth quarter.

“We have to look at it and address the things that went wrong for us,” said Thunder coach Mark Daüthalt. “You really took it.

“They were only much physical, much sharper, better and more powerful on the offensive. In order for the score to be so, they had to surpass us in many areas and they did that.”

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Randle was put on the bench late in the second game and was unhappy about it, but reacted by taking out his frustrations over the thunder.

“He knows that he doesn't take anything too personally,” said Edwards about Randle. “I could see it in his eyes. He wanted his respect back and he got it.”

– Energy and strength –

Minnesota confiscated a lead of 72-41 half. Edwards shot 8 out of 11 from the ground and produced 20 points and eight rebounds in the first half.

“We just couldn't fill it as we had the first games,” said Daignault. “Credit him for the energy and strength he played with. He was really early.”

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The T wolves led up to 68-33 in the first half and set up a club record for playoff points in one half with 72. In the first half, they scored 13 points of 10 forced sales, while Thunder scored 12 out of 40.

“The biggest is that they came out and played with more strength than we did,” said Chet Holmgren from Oklahoma City. “Wherever they wanted to go. They didn't let them stop them.”

Edwards scored 16 points in the first quarter and exhibited the thunder when the T-Wolves conquered their greatest lead in the series up to this point with 34-14.

“We set our intensity from the first minute of the game,” said Rudy Gobert from Minnesota.

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“Everyone came out the attitude to be physical. We consistently made the entire game consistent.”

In the second half, Oklahoma City began with an 11: 2 run, but the T-Wolves answered with a 10-0 sprint and continued in the lead of 103: 61, when the thunder sent her starter to the bench at the end of the third quarter.

JS/DH