After losing Game 1 and Game 2, the Minnesota Timberwolves came all guns blazing in Game 3 against the Thunder. With Anthony Edwards leading from the front, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City succumbed to a 143-101 defeat. Well, Edwards—who was yet to deliver a masterclass in this series—coming big was bound to happen, but what if we tell you SGA already knew the carnage Ant-Man’s Timberwolves would create in Minnesota?

Undefeated and unbothered, that’s how the Thunder entered the city of Minnesota this Sunday for Game 3. And with Gilgeous-Alexander coming off to an MVP win, it felt like the day would belong to Oklahoma until it did not. But Shai was still concerned about facing someone who had already caused him troubles in the past.

Notably, even after losing the first two games, Edwards was still 9-7 against SGA. So, before the game even started at the Target Center on Sunday, Shai was already seen issuing a warning to his teammates. As expected, Anthony Edwards showed up. Not the guy who drifted through a quiet second half in Game 2 with 16 points. Now, in another update, SGA’s warning is not secret anymore.

Per ESPN, during warmups, the reigning NBA MVP turned to his teammates: “Keep the main thing the main thing. Don’t get too comfortable.” That wasn’t a pep-phrase. It was a warning from a vet who knows how fast playoff momentum flips—especially when you face an explosive star like Ant.

SGA on the mic 🎤 pic.twitter.com/Z3KJejMFL6

— ESPN (@espn) May 25, 2025

Sure enough, Edwards lit it up. He poured in 16 points in the first quarter alone—matching his entire second-half output from Game 2—and outscored the whole Thunder squad himself. Minnesota stormed to a 34–14 lead in just 12 minutes. Suddenly, OKC wasn’t in control—they were shellshocked.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s warning wasn’t just smart—it was prophetic. Even after dropping 38 points in Game 2 with surgical precision, he couldn’t plug every gap. Defensive lapses and sleepy rotations let Minnesota kick down the door.

This is the same Shai who dragged OKC past Denver in a brutal seven-game series. It’s the same Shai who, after nabbing MVP hardware, reminded everyone: “All season long, we’ve focused on the next game and what’s in front of us… We’d do ourselves a disservice if we veered from what got us here.”

But all that composure and vision mean nothing if the rest of the Thunder don’t match the fire Anthony Edwards just lit under this series.

Timberwolves’ Desperation and Defensive Edge

If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s tunnel message was about staying composed, the Timberwolves came into Game 3 ready to crank up the pressure. Back in Minneapolis, facing a must-win, this squad leaned hard into desperation—and it’s paying off in jaw-dropping fashion.

“We’ve got to be desperate,” Jaden McDaniels said. “Every possession matters. Every game, everything matters. We’ve just got to be super desperate and play smart.”

They weren’t just smart—they were surgical. After coughing up 10 more turnovers than OKC over the first two games, the Wolves flipped the script. Their defensive intensity swarmed the Thunder’s spacing, forcing bad shots, sloppy passes, and breaking open transition lanes. Chris Finch didn’t just ask for hustle—he got hellfire.

Julius Randle going 19 points in 3rd quarter of Game 3, who was benched down the stretch in Game 2, came out hunting for redemption. Active off-ball, aggressive on defense, and finally engaged, he helped fuel the early run. Meanwhile, Nickeil Alexander-Walker hit timely threes and brought the energy needed to keep OKC second-guessing on switches.

And then there’s Anthony Edwards—turning desperation into a statement. Through three quarters, Ant has torched the Thunder with 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, doing it all with a swagger that screams not done yet.

As Minnesota closed the third quarter up 107–70, this wasn’t just a bounce-back—it was a beatdown. Coach Mark Daigneault once said: “It’s really about what level of discomfort we’re able to put on the opponent.” Tonight, it’s Minnesota making them uncomfortable. And suddenly, this series has life.