Timberwolves Stun NBA: Inside Minnesota’s Epic Playoff Upset and Anthony Edwards’ Record-Breaking Night

The Minnesota Timberwolves roared back into the 2025 Western Conference Finals on Saturday night, overwhelming the Oklahoma City Thunder 62-31 by halftime en route to a 121-97 Game 3 victory inside a moon-lit “Whiteout” Target Center crowd that refused to sit down. Powered by a career-playoff-high 43 points from All-NBA guard Anthony Edwards and a suffocating defensive game plan that held newly crowned MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 17 points on 6-of-18 shooting, Minnesota sliced the Thunder’s series lead to 2-1 and reignited hopes of the franchise’s first trip to the NBA Finals. Edwards attacked downhill from the opening tip, scoring 18 in the first quarter and finishing 5-for-9 from beyond the arc while also dishing seven assists. “I told the guys, ‘We’re not going down like this,’” he said on the ABC broadcast as confetti cannons fired in the background. Rudy Gobert added 16 rebounds and four blocks, repeatedly erasing drives from Chet Holmgren, while Jaden McDaniels’ length bothered OKC’s secondary scorers. Minnesota won the glass 52-38 and converted 14 offensive boards into 19 second-chance points, a swing category after losing that battle in Games 1 and 2. Coach Chris Finch also tweaked his rotation, inserting veteran Kyle Anderson for early minutes to slow the pace and create mismatch post-ups. The move paid off: the Wolves scored 56 points in the paint and limited their turnovers to nine, down from an average of 15 in the opening two losses. Key Game 3 takeaways for fans and fantasy managers • Edwards’ usage rate spiked to 37%, and he logged all but two minutes through three quarters. • Gobert became the first Timberwolf with a playoff 15-15-4 stat line since Kevin Garnett in 2004. • OKC’s low-turnover offense coughed up 18 giveaways, leading to 26 Minnesota points. What’s next: critical Game 4, TV info & streaming keywords Game 4 tips Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC with free streams available via the NBA App and Sling TV trials, terms fans continue to search in record numbers. Minnesota looks to force a 2-2 tie before the matchup shifts back to Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Historical context drives buzz The Timberwolves have reached the Conference Finals only three times in 36 seasons, falling in 2004 and 2024 before this run; no franchise has waited longer for its first NBA Finals berth among current Western teams. With postseason ticket demand surging 240% on secondary markets, Target Center officials confirmed additional standing-room sections for Monday’s sell-out. Betting & odds snapshot Sportsbooks moved Minnesota from +2000 to +850 to win the NBA Title overnight, while OKC remains the favorite at ‑275. Edwards’ Finals MVP odds shortened to +1400, behind only Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton, reflecting renewed bettor confidence. SEO tip for readers searching “how to watch Timberwolves vs Thunder live” • Local viewers: Bally Sports North continues live pregame shows two hours before tip. • Cord-cutters: fuboTV and YouTube TV both offer free trials that include ABC/ESPN. • International fans: NBA League Pass provides single-game options in 200+ countries. Can Minnesota sustain the momentum? For the Wolves, the blueprint is clear: dictate tempo, win the rebounding margin, and unleash Edwards’ downhill ferocity. If they replicate Saturday’s energy, the franchise might finally turn hashtag #RaisedByWolves into the story of the 2025 postseason.