Minnesota Timberwolves vs Oklahoma City Thunder Live Tonight: Start Time, TV Channel, Free Stream & Betting Odds

The Minnesota Timberwolves roared back into the Western Conference finals with a statement-making 143-101 demolition of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, slicing OKC’s series lead to 2-1 and reigniting playoff fever at Target Center. Key Takeaways From Game 3 • Fast start fuels rout: Minnesota opened on a 25-5 burst and never trailed, holding the Thunder scoreless for nearly five minutes in the first quarter. • Edwards leads the charge: All-Star guard Anthony Edwards poured in 30 points, grabbed nine boards and dished six assists, looking every bit the two-way engine the Wolves need. • Balanced firepower: Julius Randle added 24 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaden McDaniels and Mike Conley combined for 49 more, giving Chris Finch five double-figure scorers. • Defensive turnaround: After surrendering 118 and 114 points in Games 1 and 2, Minnesota limited OKC to its lowest-scoring quarter of the season (14 points in the first) and forced 17 turnovers. • Historic margin: The 42-point gap is the Thunder’s worst postseason loss ever and the largest Timberwolves playoff win in franchise history. Thunder’s Troubles Shai Gilgeous-Alexander managed 22 points but shot just 7-for-19, while Chet Holmgren battled foul trouble and finished with 11. Oklahoma City’s vaunted perimeter defense, elite through two games, surrendered 19 made threes and 60 points in the paint, numbers Mark Daigneault called “unacceptable” postgame. Series Outlook & Game 4 Details The matchup tightens heading into Monday’s pivotal Game 4 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Target Center, where Minnesota can even the series before it swings back to Paycom Center. Historically, teams leading 2-1 in a best-of-seven win the series 79 percent of the time, but momentum now rides with the Timberwolves. What Minnesota Must Replicate • Relentless pace: Push in transition before OKC’s rangy defenders get set. • Paint touches: Early interior touches for Towns and Randle collapse the Thunder defense and open weak-side threes. • Rotational discipline: Keep length on Gilgeous-Alexander, send late help instead of early doubles, and live with contested mid-range pull-ups. What Oklahoma City Must Fix • Shot selection: Attack the rim and generate catch-and-shoot threes rather than settling for early clock pull-ups. • Rebounding: Wolves won the glass 52-35; OKC must gang rebound to fuel their transition game. • Role-player punch: Only two Thunder scored in double figures; Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey need to rediscover their offensive rhythm to alleviate SGA’s load. Search-Friendly FAQs Q: What was the final score of Timberwolves vs. Thunder Game 3? A: Minnesota 143, Oklahoma City 101, cutting the Thunder’s series lead to 2-1. Q: When is Game 4 of the Western Conference finals? A: Monday, May 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Q: Who were the top performers in Game 3? A: Anthony Edwards (30-9-6) and Julius Randle (24 points) for Minnesota; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (22 points) for OKC. Bottom Line Game 3 flipped the narrative of this Western Conference finals overnight. If the Timberwolves bring the same defensive bite and balanced scoring on Monday, the pressure shifts squarely onto a young Thunder squad suddenly searching for answers.