You know that moment in a movie when everything shifts, when the music swells, and the hero suddenly sees the game differently? Game 3 in Minnesota had that energy. Only this wasn’t Hollywood. This was a 42-point playoff statement from a team that looked completely reborn. How does that happen after going down 0–2? A desperate team dinner? A locker room meltdown? Try none of the above. Instead, after the Timberwolves dismantled the Thunder 143–101, Anthony Edwards walked to the mic and casually dropped the line that changed the conversation.

“TJ came in and brought ultimate energy, man, and you know you can’t ask for nothing more,” Anthony Edwards said postgame, glowing like a proud older brother. “He came in and made all the right plays, attacked the basket with aggression, and he came up big for us tonight.”

Wait, Terrence Shannon Jr., the 24-year-old who hadn’t cracked the rotation properly two games ago? He dropped 15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and a steal in just 13:12 minutes. He dove for loose balls, flew downhill in transition, and injected chaos into a game that badly needed it from Minnesota’s side.

This wasn’t just a “next man up” moment. This was a turning point. And it wasn’t random. Something happened behind the scenes, and Game 3 was the explosion. It all started earlier that day in a not-so-secret film session that turned into a team therapy session.

“I am told that the Timberwolves had a 45-minute long film session this morning,” Shams Charania reported. “That’s much longer than usual for this team on game day. A lot of those conversations since Game 2 have revolved around making quicker decisions, playing with pace, playing aggressively and smartly, and getting away from isolation-heavy basketball.”

Translation: the Wolves got sick of their own bad habits, locked the doors, and hashed it out. No sulking, no finger-pointing—just a long, honest basketball therapy session. Chris Finch, who’s faced scrutiny for his playcalling and lineup choices, made good on his promise to shake things up. And when they stepped onto the court hours later, they looked like a team that had actually listened. The Wolves played faster, freer, and more physically. No more stagnant sets. No more second-guessing.

What happens when belief meets energy?

Because this wasn’t just a feel-good moment or a random spark. It was a textbook example of how intangible shifts—the stuff you don’t see on the stat sheet—can completely rewrite a team’s orbit. When Shannon Jr. stepped onto the court, he carried more than just points. He carried the weight of fresh confidence, a shot of adrenaline that the Wolves desperately needed after their slow start to the series.

Look at the numbers: Minnesota exploded for 143 points, shooting 57.3% from the field while putting up 50.0% 3-pointers. Their pace jumped significantly, pushing the Thunder out of their comfort zone. The Wolves attacked with aggression, running transition plays and forcing turnovers, something they’d struggled to do in the first two games.

And that belief wasn’t confined to Shannon alone. Edwards, Randle, and the rest of the roster embraced the renewed pace and energy, sharing the ball like it was a hot potato and attacking the rim with urgency. Randle put up 24 points in 30 minutes. And if that was not a sign for the naysayers to hush-hush, we don’t know what was. After all, getting benched in the previous game after putting up a mere 6 points with 2-11 shooting didn’t exactly scream ‘yeah, we got the Conference Finals’ under control. On the other hand, Edwards himself poured in 30 points, cutting through Oklahoma City’s defense like a man on a mission.

So when Edwards says Shannon brought ultimate energy and that “you can’t ask for nothing more,” he’s not just talking about hustle plays. He’s talking about how one player’s fire can ignite a whole squad, pushing everyone to raise their game. And the Wolves? They’re not done yet. This Game 3 explosion might just be the moment they start to truly believe that this series, and maybe even this postseason, can still be theirs.