NBA West finals: Timberwolves are again on this sequence, will OKC reply in Sport 4?

The Western Convention finals proceed with the No. 1 seed Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder dropping Sport 3 however nonetheless having a 2-1 sequence lead over the No. 6 seed Minnesota Timberwolves for a spot within the NBA Finals. 

The Thunder are aiming to succeed in the NBA Finals for the primary time since 2012. This postseason, OKC swept the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies earlier than needing seven video games to get rid of the No. 4 seed Denver Nuggets.

In the meantime, the Timberwolves try to safe their first look within the NBA Finals in franchise historical past. The Wolves beforehand knocked off the No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers earlier than dispatching the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors. 

Here is what stood out from the Timberwolves’ Sport 3 win and what to anticipate from Sport 4. 

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Sport 3: Timberwolves 143, Thunder 101

What stood out for the Timberwolves: Minnesota was seemingly left for useless after they misplaced the primary two video games of this sequence. The Thunder have been too deep. Their protection was too good. Welp, suppose once more, of us. The Timberwolves seemingly remodeled a gaping two-game chasm right into a mere crack with a 42-point win in Sport 3. They now path the sequence, 2-1. The Timberwolves have been the aggressors from the get-go, main by as a lot as 45 factors in a recreation that became a rout within the first quarter, after they jumped to a 20-point benefit. This was a complete workforce effort for the Timberwolves, whose protection suffocated the Thunder, holding them to 40.7 % taking pictures from the sphere and 31.8 % from past the arc. In the meantime, Anthony Edwards performed like a famous person the Timberwolves desperately wanted, ending with 30 factors, 9 rebounds, six assists and two steals, making 12 of his 17 photographs from the sphere and 5 of his 8 photographs from 3. To not point out, he lastly had some assist, with 5 of his teammates additionally scoring in double-digits, together with Julius Randle (24 factors), Terrence Shannon Jr. (15 factors), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (12 factors), Naz Reid (10 factors) and Jaden McDaniels (10 factors). 

What stood out for the Thunder: That is the kind of recreation the Thunder are going to need to overlook as quickly as potential. They have been simply utterly outclassed. Their main scorer, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, had simply 14 factors and he wanted 13 photographs to get them. The Thunder couldn’t get something going for them, because the Timberwolves seemingly took a web page out of their e book on the defensive finish. The Thunder have been outrebounded, 50-31, and outscored in second-chance factors, 20-7. The Thunder acquired a impolite awakening on this recreation: They will’t take their foot off the fuel in opposition to the Timberwolves – or else. 

What’s in retailer for Sport 4: For the Timberwolves, they should replicate this kind of physicality and depth going ahead. They now know they’ll beat the Thunder. However with the intention to do it, they should play swarming protection, a number of gamers must be concerned on the offensive finish and they should make their 3-point photographs as they did in Sport 3, after they shot 50 % from that distance. (In Sport 1, they shot 29.4 % from past the arc and in Sport 2, they shot 28.2 % from 3.) 

For the Thunder, Sport 4 goes to be a psychological check. After dominating the sequence, they have been shocked in Sport 3. Are they going to let that shake them up or are they going to play with the requisite aggressiveness on Monday? This a lot is for certain, the Thunder are possible not going to have one other recreation during which nobody scores greater than 14 factors. However that is the type of recreation that may swing a sequence, so each groups have to dig of their heels to sway issues their approach in Sport 4. 

Melissa Rohlin is an NBA author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated the league for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Occasions, the Bay Space Information Group and the San Antonio Categorical-Information. Observe her on Twitter @melissarohlin.

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