The WCF Game 3 between the Timberwolves and the Thunder majorly dictated the series’ future. The Wolves dominated proceedings, with a 42 point win over OKC. And Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota star, led the way. The All-Star pushed the game from the very beginning, and his team followed suit. From step-back 3-pointers to splitting through defenders, Edwards was on his A-game.

After the underwhelming loss of the first two games, this was very definitely Ant-Man’s redemption arc. “That’s what he needed to do to take us to the next level,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “He’s learning so fast and seeing so much. He’s kind of grown along with it. He’s more comfortable out there in what he’s trying to do.” ANT posted 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists.

So, when Steven A. Smith said in an interview with First Take that Edwards was upset over the comments he made regarding the fate of the Wolves, it was understandable. Smith elaborated on that on Sunday. He was courtside and remarked that the Wolves are going to be “swept” by the Thunder. He also added that Minnesota might lose Game 3 as well. And afterwards, when he was in the locker room, Edwards stopped talking to the media to confront him.

Smith noted that Edwards walked up to him and said, “Come on now. I heard you. Come on now. Come on, Steve.” While Smith immediately apologized, he also later had a warning for the Minnesota guard.

Likewise, Smith also talked about his amazement at seeing the Minnesota bench perform well. He emphasized his shock after seeing Naz Reid come off the bench and contribute with 10 points and 8 rebounds. He also spoke of Julius Randle, who in Game 3 posted 24 points. “If that team shows up, they win tonight. They win tonight, it’s going seven,” Smith said. “They lose tonight, it’s over Wednesday night.”

For now, it seems as if this war of words between the two NBA mainstays will continue. The way Minnesota and ANT manage to continue in the series will play a major role in how this off-court battle turns out. While it is true that the Wolves must keep up their momentum to win another match, they do seem determined to level the playing field. Though difficult, let’s see how the Wolves can manage to do so.

Will the Wolves keep their winning streak in Game 4?

Coach Chris Finch has been consistent in his attempts to revitalize the Wolves. He caught the Thunder by surprise when he had Terrance Shannon Jr. on the court playing. The rookie entered the game in the second quarter and scored 15 points in 13 minutes. Finch pulled one from the deep end, and it actually paid off. Julius Randle said, “We knew we would need him in this series and coach has a lot of trust in him.”

Meanwhile, Finch benched Randle in the fourth quarter for a bit, which also caught OKC off-guard. The Minnesota coach kept both the enemy and his own bench on their toes. Post-game, Finch declared, “We were down and we had to change the complexity on the floor.” Although it is saddening to be away from the main action, Randle was seen enjoying the view from the bench.

“Obviously, I want to play and I know he trusts me to do that. I also trust him to do what’s best for the team. I know he has no ill intent,” Randle said.

For the Wolves, their motto seems to be to have trust and faith in your teammates. Well, whatever it may be, it seems to be working great, and fans will be hoping they see a similar story tonight.