Winning by a narrow margin, that too, on the home turf? You’ve got to be kidding! Such a fate would be lackluster for Anthony Edwards and Co. entering Game 3. Instead, a gritty, resourceful, skin-of-their-teeth kind of win for the Minnesota Timberwolves would have been nice and all to send ripples in the Western Conference Finals. And well, the Wolves delivered! They pulled off everything needed on Saturday’s showdown to keep themselves alive in the series. However, this Game 3 uproar wouldn’t have been possible without Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
Minnesota finally cracked the code. After two flat nights in Oklahoma City, the Wolves roared back with a 143-101 statement win at home. Anthony Edwards led the charge with 30 points. Julius Randle followed with 24. But then came Terrence Shannon Jr., the surprise spark with 15 points. It looked like Chris Finch’s gambles paid off in a night that mattered beyond everything. More than just a win, it was a revelation. The Wolves proved they belong. And maybe, just maybe, they’ve found their path.
Before Game 1, Coach Finch got honest. This Wolves team had barely touched zone defense all year. They just were not as sharp at it as last season’s crew. Even so, that did not stop him. Alongside Elston Turner, he threw in two fresh zone looks. The goal? Mirror Nikola Jokic’s Denver blueprint. It was a bold move. But at this point in the series, bold was exactly what they needed. The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski reported that the “[Minnesota] Timberwolves prepared to face the Thunder, the coaching staff and players watched film of every game of Oklahoma City’s seven-game semifinals series against the Denver Nuggets.”
Image Credits: IMAGN
The Wolves did their homework. To begin with, they studied what Denver pulled off and asked all the right questions. After all, how did a short-handed squad push a 68-win powerhouse to the brink? Soon enough, the answer surfaced. That zone. It threw off Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with just 14 points in Minneapolis. Naturally, it rattled the Thunder’s rhythm. So Minnesota observed, adapted, and maybe even grinned. At last, they saw a crack, and they were ready to strike.
But strategy alone did not spark the fire. Sometimes, it takes more than schemes and scouting. It wasn’t just about watching Nikola Jokic’s films. Sometimes, it starts with a choice made behind closed doors. That’s exactly what happened. The Wolves team, with veteran Mike Conley in the mix, came together and made a call. Something had to change. And so, the tone shifted, then the game followed. Before the comeback roared on the court, it was born in the locker room.
Amidst Nikola Jokic & Co.’s contribution, Mike Conley makes major Wolves locker room confession
The Thunder crushed them twice, winning by over 20 on average. Still, the Timberwolves clung to a story. They said it was just the third quarters that doomed them. Maybe it was the truth. Maybe they dressed their denial as hope. No one could tell. Not until Saturday. Thus, speaking to the media after the game veteran guard Mike Conley made a crucial confession about the strategy and their game.
Just like Coach Finch admitted before Game 1 vs. the Thunder, the Wolves hadn’t used zone defense much this season. As he felt this year’s group just isn’t as good at it as last year’s team. Now, sharing similar thoughts, Conley admitted, “We hadn’t played those zones before, technically, all year, so it was brand new to us. Guys were kind of slow in rotations as we were trying to do it right, but we’re more of a man-to-man team, a physical team.”
Nov 7, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) and guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) react during the second half of a basketball game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Turns out, the Wolves had more fight left than anyone guessed. Anthony Edwards led with fire, while Mike Conley and Coach Finch sparked change behind the scenes. They studied Nikola Jokic’s Denver, embraced the unknown despite the 2-game losses, and trusted a system they barely knew. Even when it felt uncomfortable, they leaned in. Now, with belief blooming and the series alive, Minnesota is no longer just reacting. They are rewriting the story. One bold choice at a time.
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